HOUSE BILL No. 5943

 

 

September 22, 2016, Introduced by Reps. McBroom, Aaron Miller, Canfield, Cole, Johnson, Webber and Goike and referred to the Committee on Elections.

 

     A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled

 

"Michigan election law,"

 

by amending sections 192, 193, 197, 200, 223, 223a, 224, 228, 231,

 

253, 254, 258, 261, 345, 349, 355, 370, 370a, 697, and 699 (MCL

 

168.192, 168.193, 168.197, 168.200, 168.223, 168.223a, 168.224,

 

168.228, 168.231, 168.253, 168.254, 168.258, 168.261, 168.345,

 

168.349, 168.355, 168.370, 168.370a, 168.697, and 168.699),

 

sections 193, 224, 254, and 349 as amended by 2012 PA 276, section

 

200 as amended by 1998 PA 364, section 355 as amended by 2013 PA

 

51, sections 370 and 370a as amended by 2014 PA 94, and section 699

 

as amended by 2012 PA 523, and by adding sections 192a, 193a, 197a,

 

200a, 223b, 224a, 228a, 231a, 253a, 254a, 258a, 261a, 345a, 349b,

 

356a, and 357a.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 


     Sec. 192. A Except as otherwise provided in section 192a, a

 

general primary election of all political parties shall be held in

 

every county of this state on the Tuesday succeeding after the

 

first Monday in August preceding before the general November

 

election at which the officers named in section 191 of this act are

 

to be elected, at which time the qualified and registered electors

 

of each political party may vote for party candidates for the

 

offices. This section shall not apply to political parties required

 

to nominate candidates at caucuses or conventions.

 

     Sec. 192a. (1) The county board of commissioners of a county

 

with a population of less than 75,000 may adopt a resolution to

 

conduct nonpartisan elections for the offices of county clerk,

 

county treasurer, register of deeds, prosecuting attorney, sheriff,

 

drain commissioner, surveyor, and coroner. If a county board of

 

commissioners adopts a resolution as provided in this section, the

 

resolution takes effect on December 31 of the year in which the

 

resolution is adopted.

 

     (2) If a county board of commissioners adopts a resolution as

 

provided under subsection (1), a general nonpartisan primary

 

election shall be held in that county on the Tuesday after the

 

first Monday in August before every general November election at

 

which a county clerk, county treasurer, register of deeds,

 

prosecuting attorney, sheriff, drain commissioner, surveyor, or

 

coroner is to be elected, at which time the qualified and

 

registered electors may vote for the nonpartisan candidates for the

 

office of county clerk, county treasurer, register of deeds,

 

prosecuting attorney, sheriff, drain commissioner, surveyor, or


coroner. If upon the expiration of the time for filing petitions or

 

a filing fee for the primary election of the county clerk, county

 

treasurer, register of deeds, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, drain

 

commissioner, surveyor, or coroner it appears that there are not to

 

exceed twice the number of candidates as there are persons to be

 

elected, then the county clerk shall certify to the county board of

 

election commissioners the name of the candidate for county clerk,

 

county treasurer, register of deeds, prosecuting attorney, sheriff,

 

drain commissioner, surveyor, or coroner whose petitions have been

 

properly filed and that candidate shall be so certified. As to that

 

office, there shall not be a primary election and this office shall

 

be omitted from the primary ballot.

 

     Sec. 193. (1) To Except as otherwise provided in section 193a,

 

to obtain the printing of the name of a person as a candidate for

 

nomination by a political party for an office named in section 191

 

under a particular party heading upon the official primary ballots,

 

there shall be filed with the county clerk nominating petitions

 

signed by a number of qualified and registered electors residing

 

within the county as determined under section 544f. Nominating

 

petitions shall be in the form prescribed in section 544c. Until

 

December 31, 2013, the county clerk shall receive nominating

 

petitions up to 4 p.m. of the twelfth Tuesday before the August

 

primary. Beginning January 1, 2014, the The county clerk shall

 

receive nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. of the fifteenth Tuesday

 

before the August primary.

 

     (2) To Except as otherwise provided in section 193a, to obtain

 

the printing of the name of a candidate of a political party under


the particular party's heading upon the primary election ballots in

 

the various voting precincts of the county, there may be filed by

 

the candidate, in lieu of filing nomination petitions, a filing fee

 

of $100.00 to be paid to the county clerk. Payment of the fee and

 

certification of the candidate's name paying the fee shall be

 

governed by the same provisions as in the case of nominating

 

petitions. The fee shall be deposited in the general fund of the

 

county and shall be refunded to candidates who are nominated and to

 

an equal number of candidates who receive the next highest number

 

of votes in the primary election. If 2 or more candidates tie in

 

having the lowest number of votes allowing a refund, the sum of

 

$100.00 shall be divided among them. The deposits of all other

 

defeated candidates, as well as the deposits of candidates who

 

withdraw or are disqualified, shall be forfeited and the candidates

 

shall be notified of the forfeiture. Deposits forfeited under this

 

section shall be paid into and credited to the general fund of the

 

county.

 

     Sec. 193a. (1) This section only applies if a county board of

 

commissioners adopts a resolution as provided under section 192a.

 

     (2) Subject to subsection (3), to obtain the printing of the

 

name of a person as a candidate for nomination for the office of

 

county clerk, county treasurer, register of deeds, prosecuting

 

attorney, sheriff, drain commissioner, surveyor, or coroner upon

 

the official nonpartisan primary ballots, there shall be filed with

 

the county clerk nominating petitions signed by a number of

 

qualified and registered electors residing within the county as

 

determined under section 544f. Nominating petitions shall be in the


form prescribed in section 544a. The county clerk shall receive

 

nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. of the fifteenth Tuesday before

 

the August primary.

 

     (3) Instead of filing nominating petitions, a candidate for

 

county clerk, county treasurer, register of deeds, prosecuting

 

attorney, sheriff, drain commissioner, surveyor, or coroner may pay

 

a filing fee of $100.00 to the county clerk. Payment of the filing

 

fee and certification of the candidate's name paying the filing fee

 

shall be governed by the same provisions as in the case of

 

nominating petitions. The fee shall be deposited in the general

 

fund of the county.

 

     (4) The nominating petition signatures filed under this

 

section are subject to challenge as provided in section 552.

 

     Sec. 197. The Except as otherwise provided in section 197a,

 

the candidates of each political party for the offices named in

 

section 191 of this act receiving the greatest number of votes cast

 

for said those offices, as set forth in the reports of the board of

 

county canvassers, based on the returns from the various election

 

precincts, or as determined by said the board as the result of a

 

recount, shall be declared the nominees of that political party for

 

said those offices at the next ensuing November election. The board

 

of county canvassers shall forthwith certify such the nominations

 

to the county election commission.

 

     Sec. 197a. (1) This section only applies if a county board of

 

commissioners adopts a resolution as provided under section 192a.

 

     (2) The candidates for the office of county clerk, county

 

treasurer, register of deeds, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, drain


commissioner, surveyor, or coroner receiving the largest number of

 

votes at a primary election, to a number equal to twice the number

 

of places to be filled as set forth in the report of the board of

 

county canvassers, based on the returns from the various election

 

precincts or as determined by the board of county canvassers as a

 

result of a recount, shall be declared the nominees for the office

 

of county clerk, county treasurer, register of deeds, prosecuting

 

attorney, sheriff, drain commissioner, surveyor, or coroner at the

 

next November election. The board of county canvassers shall

 

certify the nominations to the county election commission.

 

     Sec. 200. (1) A Except as otherwise provided in section 200a,

 

a county clerk, a county treasurer, a register of deeds, a

 

prosecuting attorney, a sheriff, a drain commissioner, and a

 

surveyor shall be elected at the 2000 general November election and

 

every fourth year after that. However, in a county in which 1 of

 

these offices is abolished or combined as provided by law, no

 

person shall be elected to that office in that county.

 

     (2) Subject to subsections (3), (4), and (5), a county board

 

of commissioners may by resolution combine the offices of county

 

clerk and register of deeds in 1 office of the clerk register or

 

separate the office of the clerk register into the offices of

 

county clerk and register of deeds. A combination or separation of

 

offices shall not take effect before the expiration of the current

 

term of the affected offices.

 

     (3) Before adopting a resolution to combine the offices of

 

county clerk and register of deeds or separate the office of clerk

 

register into the offices of county clerk and register of deeds, a


county board of commissioners shall study the question of combining

 

or separating the offices. The mandatory requirements of this

 

subsection may be satisfied by conducting a public hearing pursuant

 

to subsection (4).

 

     (4) The county board of commissioners as a whole body shall

 

hold not less than 1 public hearing, held subject to the open

 

meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275, on the question of

 

combining or separating the offices of county clerk and register of

 

deeds. The county board of commissioners may vote on the question

 

as a regularly scheduled agenda item not less than 10 days or more

 

than 30 days after the last public hearing held by the county board

 

of commissioners on the question.

 

     (5) Not later than the sixth Tuesday before the deadline for

 

filing the nominating petitions for the office of county clerk,

 

register of deeds, or clerk register, the county board of

 

commissioners may by a vote of 2/3 of the commissioners elected and

 

serving combine the offices of county clerk and register of deeds

 

or separate the office of the clerk register. The resolution shall

 

become effective upon the commencement of the next term of office

 

of the county clerk, register of deeds, or clerk register after the

 

adoption of the resolution.

 

     Sec. 200a. (1) This section only applies if a county board of

 

commissioners adopts a resolution as provided under section 192a.

 

     (2) If there are fewer nominees for the office of county

 

clerk, county treasurer, register of deeds, prosecuting attorney,

 

sheriff, drain commissioner, surveyor, or coroner than there are

 

persons to be elected because of the death or disqualification of a


nominee less than 66 days before the general November election,

 

then a person shall not be elected at that general November

 

election for that office for which there is no nominee.

 

     Sec. 223. A Except as otherwise provided in section 223b, a

 

primary of all political parties shall be held on the Tuesday

 

succeeding after the first Monday in August preceding before the

 

general November election in the year 1956 and every fourth year

 

thereafter, at which time the qualified and registered electors of

 

each political party may vote for party candidates for nomination

 

for the office of county auditor. A primary of all political

 

parties shall be held on the third Monday in February preceding the

 

general April election in the year 1957 and every fourth year

 

thereafter, and in the year 1959 and every fourth year thereafter,

 

at which time the qualified and registered electors of each

 

political party may vote for party candidates for nomination for

 

the office of county auditor: Provided, That this This section

 

shall not apply to political parties required to nominate

 

candidates at conventions.

 

     Sec. 223a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or

 

local acts to the contrary, in any county now or hereafter having a

 

population of 1,000,000 or more, any elected county auditor whose

 

term of office expires on December 31, 1965, shall continue in

 

office until December 31, 1966; any elected county auditor whose

 

term of office expires on December 31, 1967, shall continue in

 

office until December 31, 1968; any elected county auditor whose

 

term of office expires on December 31, 1968, shall continue in

 

office until December 31, 1970. Thereafter each county auditor


shall be elected for a term of 6 years and until a successor shall

 

be is elected and qualified. If for any reason the office of county

 

auditor is abolished before the expiration of the term of any

 

county auditor, the term shall be deemed considered to have expired

 

on the date the office was abolished. County auditors shall be

 

nominated and elected in all respects in the same manner as

 

provided by law for the nomination and election of other partisan

 

county officers.

 

     Sec. 223b. (1) The county board of commissioners of a county

 

with a population of less than 75,000 may adopt a resolution to

 

conduct nonpartisan elections for the office of county auditor. If

 

a county board of commissioners adopts a resolution as provided in

 

this section, the resolution takes effect on December 31 of the

 

year in which the resolution is adopted.

 

     (2) If a county board of commissioners adopts a resolution as

 

provided under subsection (1), a general nonpartisan primary

 

election shall be held in that county on the Tuesday after the

 

first Monday in August before every general November election at

 

which a county auditor is to be elected, at which time the

 

qualified and registered electors may vote for the nonpartisan

 

candidates for the office of county auditor. If upon the expiration

 

of the time for filing petitions or a filing fee for the primary

 

election of the county auditor it appears that there are not to

 

exceed twice the number of candidates as there are persons to be

 

elected, then the county clerk shall certify to the county board of

 

election commissioners the name of the candidate for county auditor

 

whose petitions have been properly filed and that candidate shall


be so certified. As to that office, there shall not be a primary

 

election and this office shall be omitted from the primary ballot.

 

     Sec. 224. (1) To Except as otherwise provided in section 224a,

 

to obtain the printing of the name of a person as candidate for

 

nomination by a political party for the office of county auditor

 

under a particular party heading upon the official primary ballots,

 

there shall be filed with the county clerk nominating petitions

 

signed by a number of qualified and registered electors residing

 

within the county as determined under section 544f. Nominating

 

petitions shall be in the form prescribed in section 544c. Until

 

December 31, 2013, the county clerk shall receive nominating

 

petitions up to 4 p.m. of the twelfth Tuesday before the August

 

primary. Beginning January 1, 2014, the The county clerk shall

 

receive nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. of the fifteenth Tuesday

 

before the August primary.

 

     (2) To Except as otherwise provided under section 224a, to

 

obtain the printing of the name of the candidate of a political

 

party under the particular party's heading upon the primary

 

election ballots in the various voting precincts of the county,

 

there may be filed by the candidate, in lieu of filing nominating

 

petitions, a filing fee of $100.00 to be paid to the county clerk.

 

Payment of the fee and certification of the name of the candidate

 

paying the fee shall be governed by the same provisions as in the

 

case of nominating petitions. The fee shall be deposited in the

 

general fund of the county and shall be refunded to candidates who

 

are nominated and to an equal number of candidates who received the

 

next highest number of votes in the primary election. If 2 or more


candidates tie in having the lowest number of votes allowing a

 

refund, the sum of $100.00 shall be divided among them. The

 

deposits of all other defeated candidates and of candidates who

 

withdraw or are disqualified shall be forfeited and the candidates

 

shall be notified of the forfeitures. Deposits forfeited under this

 

section shall be paid into and credited to the general fund of the

 

county.

 

     Sec. 224a. (1) This section only applies if a county board of

 

commissioners adopts a resolution as provided under section 223b.

 

     (2) Subject to subsection (3), to obtain the printing of the

 

name of a person as a candidate for nomination for the office of

 

county auditor upon the official nonpartisan primary ballots, there

 

shall be filed with the county clerk nominating petitions signed by

 

a number of qualified and registered electors residing within the

 

county as determined under section 544f. Nominating petitions shall

 

be in the form prescribed in section 544a. The county clerk shall

 

receive nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. of the fifteenth Tuesday

 

before the August primary.

 

     (3) Instead of filing nominating petitions, a candidate for

 

county auditor may pay a filing fee of $100.00 to the county clerk.

 

Payment of the filing fee and certification of the candidate's name

 

paying the filing fee shall be governed by the same provisions as

 

in the case of nominating petitions. The fee shall be deposited in

 

the general fund of the county.

 

     (4) The nominating petition signatures filed under this

 

section are subject to challenge as provided in section 552.

 

     Sec. 228. The Except as otherwise provided in section 228a,


the candidate of each political party for the office of county

 

auditor receiving the greatest number of votes cast for candidates

 

for said that office, as set forth in the report of the board of

 

county canvassers, based on the returns from the various election

 

precincts, or as determined by said the board as the result of a

 

recount, shall be declared the nominee of that political party for

 

said the office of county auditor at the next ensuing November

 

election, and the board of county canvassers shall forthwith

 

certify such the nomination to the county election commission not

 

later than 35 days prior to said before the ensuing election.

 

     Sec. 228a. (1) This section only applies if a county board of

 

commissioners adopts a resolution as provided under section 223b.

 

     (2) The candidates for the office of county auditor receiving

 

the largest number of votes at a primary election, to a number

 

equal to twice the number of places to be filled as set forth in

 

the report of the board of county canvassers, based on the returns

 

from the various election precincts or as determined by the board

 

of county canvassers as a result of a recount, shall be declared

 

the nominees for the office of county auditor at the next November

 

election. The board of county canvassers shall certify the

 

nominations to the county election commission.

 

     Sec. 231. A Except as otherwise provided in section 231a, a

 

county auditor shall be elected at the general November election in

 

the year 1956 and every fourth year thereafter. , and in counties

 

electing a county auditor in the spring, a county auditor shall be

 

elected at the biennial spring election.

 

     Sec. 231a. (1) This section only applies if a county board of


commissioners adopts a resolution as provided under section 223b.

 

     (2) If there are fewer nominees for the office of county

 

auditor than there are persons to be elected because of the death

 

or disqualification of a nominee less than 66 days before the

 

general November election, then a person shall not be elected at

 

that general November election for that office for which there is

 

no nominee.

 

     Sec. 253. A Except as otherwise provided in section 253a, a

 

general primary election of all political parties shall be held on

 

the Tuesday succeeding after the first Monday in August preceding

 

before every general November election in which county road

 

commissioners are elected, at which time the qualified and

 

registered electors of each political party may vote for party

 

candidates for the office of county road commissioner.

 

     Sec. 253a. (1) The county board of commissioners of a county

 

with a population of less than 75,000 may adopt a resolution to

 

conduct nonpartisan elections for the office of county road

 

commissioner. If a county board of commissioners adopts a

 

resolution as provided in this section, the resolution takes effect

 

on December 31 of the year in which the resolution is adopted.

 

     (2) If a county board of commissioners adopts a resolution as

 

provided under subsection (1), a general nonpartisan primary

 

election shall be held in that county on the Tuesday after the

 

first Monday in August before every general November election at

 

which county road commissioners are to be elected, at which time

 

the qualified and registered electors may vote for the nonpartisan

 

candidates for the office of county road commissioner. If upon the


expiration of the time for filing petitions or a filing fee for the

 

primary election of the county road commissioners it appears that

 

there are not to exceed twice the number of candidates as there are

 

persons to be elected, then the county clerk shall certify to the

 

county board of election commissioners the name of the candidate

 

for county road commissioner whose petitions have been properly

 

filed and that candidate shall be so certified. As to that office,

 

there shall not be a primary election and this office shall be

 

omitted from the primary ballot.

 

     Sec. 254. (1) To Except as otherwise provided in section 254a,

 

to obtain the printing of the name of a person as a candidate for

 

nomination by a political party for the office of county road

 

commissioner under a particular party heading upon the official

 

primary ballots, there shall be filed with the county clerk of the

 

county nominating petitions signed by a number of qualified and

 

registered electors residing within the county as determined under

 

section 544f. Nominating petitions shall be in the form prescribed

 

in section 544c. Until December 31, 2013, the county clerk shall

 

receive nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. of the twelfth Tuesday

 

before the August primary in which county road commissioners are to

 

be elected. Beginning January 1, 2014, the The county clerk shall

 

receive nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. of the fifteenth Tuesday

 

before the August primary in which county road commissioners are to

 

be elected.

 

     (2) To Except as otherwise provided in section 254a, to obtain

 

the printing of the name of a candidate of a political party under

 

the particular party's heading upon the primary election ballots in


the various voting precincts of the county, there may be filed by

 

each candidate, in lieu of filing nominating petitions, a filing

 

fee of $100.00 to be paid to the county clerk. Payment of the fee

 

and certification of the name of the candidate paying the fee shall

 

be governed by the same provisions as in the case of nominating

 

petitions. The fee shall be deposited in the general fund of the

 

county and shall be returned to all candidates who are nominated

 

and to an equal number of candidates who received the next highest

 

number of votes in the primary election. If 2 or more candidates

 

tie in having the lowest number of votes allowing a refund, the sum

 

of $100.00 shall be divided among them. The deposits of all other

 

defeated candidates, as well as the deposits of candidates who

 

withdraw or are disqualified, shall be forfeited and the candidates

 

shall be notified of the forfeitures. Deposits forfeited under this

 

section shall be paid into and credited to the general fund of the

 

county.

 

     Sec. 254a. (1) This section only applies if a county board of

 

commissioners adopts a resolution as provided under section 253a.

 

     (2) Subject to subsection (3), to obtain the printing of the

 

name of a person as a candidate for nomination for the office of

 

county road commissioner upon the official nonpartisan primary

 

ballots, there shall be filed with the county clerk nominating

 

petitions signed by a number of qualified and registered electors

 

residing within the county as determined under section 544f.

 

Nominating petitions shall be in the form prescribed in section

 

544a. The county clerk shall receive nominating petitions up to 4

 

p.m. of the fifteenth Tuesday before the August primary.


     (3) Instead of filing nominating petitions, a candidate for

 

county road commissioner may pay a filing fee of $100.00 to the

 

county clerk. Payment of the filing fee and certification of the

 

candidate's name paying the filing fee shall be governed by the

 

same provisions as in the case of nominating petitions. The fee

 

shall be deposited in the general fund of the county.

 

     (4) The nominating petition signatures filed under this

 

section are subject to challenge as provided in section 552.

 

     Sec. 258. The Except as otherwise provided in section 258a,

 

the candidate of each political party for the office of county road

 

commissioner receiving the greatest number of votes cast for

 

candidates for said that office, as set forth in the report of the

 

board of county canvassers, based on the returns from the various

 

election precincts, or as determined by said the board as the

 

result of a recount, shall be declared the nominee of that

 

political party for said the office of county road commissioner at

 

the next ensuing November election, and the board of county

 

canvassers shall forthwith certify such the nomination to the

 

county election commission.

 

     Sec. 258a. (1) This section only applies if a county board of

 

commissioners adopts a resolution as provided under section 253a.

 

     (2) The candidates for the office of county road commissioner

 

receiving the largest number of votes at a primary election, to a

 

number equal to twice the number of places to be filled as set

 

forth in the report of the board of county canvassers, based on the

 

returns from the various election precincts or as determined by the

 

board of county canvassers as a result of a recount, shall be


declared the nominees for the office of county road commissioner at

 

the next November election. The board of county canvassers shall

 

certify the nominations to the county election commission.

 

     Sec. 261. A Except as provided in section 261a, a county road

 

commissioner shall be elected at the general election to be held on

 

the Tuesday succeeding after the first Monday of November in every

 

even numbered year.

 

     Sec. 261a. (1) This section only applies if a county board of

 

commissioners adopts a resolution as provided under section 253a.

 

     (2) If there are fewer nominees for the office of county road

 

commissioner than there are persons to be elected because of the

 

death or disqualification of a nominee less than 66 days before the

 

general November election, then a person shall not be elected at

 

that general November election for that office for which there is

 

no nominee.

 

     Sec. 345. A Except as otherwise provided in section 345a, a

 

primary of all political parties shall be held in every organized

 

township of this state on the Tuesday succeeding after the first

 

Monday in August preceding before every general November election,

 

at which time the qualified and registered electors of each

 

political party may vote for party candidates for township offices.

 

     Sec. 345a. (1) The board of trustees of a township with a

 

population of less than 75,000 may adopt a resolution to conduct

 

nonpartisan elections for the offices of supervisor, clerk,

 

treasurer, or trustee. If a board of trustees of a township adopts

 

a resolution as provided in this section, the resolution takes

 

effect on December 31 of the year in which the resolution is


adopted.

 

     (2) If a board of trustees adopts a resolution as provided

 

under subsection (1), a general nonpartisan primary shall be held

 

in that township on the Tuesday after the first Monday in August

 

before every general November election at which a township

 

supervisor, clerk, treasurer, and trustees are to be elected, at

 

which time the qualified and registered electors may vote for

 

nonpartisan candidates for the offices of township supervisor,

 

clerk, treasurer, and trustee. If upon the expiration of the time

 

for filing petitions for the nonpartisan primary election of a

 

township office described in this section it appears that there are

 

not to exceed twice the number of candidates as there are persons

 

to be elected, then the township clerk shall certify to the county

 

clerk the name of the candidate for that township office whose

 

petitions have been properly filed and that candidate shall be the

 

nominee for that township office and shall be so certified. As to

 

that township office, there shall be no primary election and this

 

township office shall be omitted from the primary ballot.

 

     Sec. 349. (1) To Except as otherwise provided in section 349b,

 

to obtain the printing of the name of a person as a candidate for

 

nomination by a political party for a township office under the

 

particular party heading upon the official primary ballots, there

 

shall be filed with the township clerk nominating petitions signed

 

by a number of qualified and registered electors residing within

 

the township as determined under section 544f. Nominating petitions

 

shall be in the form prescribed in section 544c. Until December 31,

 

2013, the township clerk shall receive nominating petitions up to 4


p.m. of the twelfth Tuesday before the August primary. Beginning

 

January 1, 2014, the The township clerk shall receive nominating

 

petitions up to 4 p.m. of the fifteenth Tuesday before the August

 

primary.

 

     (2) Within Except as otherwise provided in section 349b,

 

within 4 days after the last day for filing nominating petitions,

 

the township clerk shall deliver to the county clerk a list setting

 

forth the name, address, and political affiliation and office

 

sought of each candidate who has qualified for a position on the

 

primary ballot.

 

     Sec. 349b. (1) This section only applies if a board of

 

trustees of a township adopts a resolution as provided in section

 

345a.

 

     (2) To obtain the printing of the name of a person as a

 

candidate for nomination for a township office described in section

 

345a upon the official nonpartisan primary ballots, there shall be

 

filed with the township clerk nominating petitions signed by a

 

number of qualified and registered electors residing within the

 

township determined under section 544f. Nominating petitions shall

 

be in the form prescribed in section 544a. The township clerk shall

 

receive nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. of the fifteenth Tuesday

 

before the August primary.

 

     (3) Within 4 days after the last day for filing nominating

 

petitions, the township clerk shall deliver to the county clerk a

 

list setting forth the name, address, and office sought for each

 

candidate who has qualified for a position on the nonpartisan

 

primary ballot.


     Sec. 355. (1) The Except as otherwise provided in section

 

356a, the candidate or candidates of each political party to a

 

township office receiving the greatest number of votes cast for

 

candidates of that office, as set forth in the report of the board

 

of county canvassers, based on the returns from the various

 

election precincts, or as determined by the board of county

 

canvassers as the result of a recount, shall be declared the

 

nominee or nominees of that political party for that office at the

 

next ensuing November election. The board of county canvassers

 

shall certify the nomination or nominations to the township clerk

 

within 48 hours after the polls close.

 

     (2) Within 4 days following the primary, the township clerk

 

shall deliver to the county clerk a list setting forth the names,

 

addresses, political affiliation, and office sought of all

 

candidates nominated at the primary.

 

     Sec. 356a. (1) This section only applies if a board of

 

trustees of a township adopts a resolution as provided in section

 

345a.

 

     (2) The candidates for each township office described in

 

section 345a receiving the largest number of votes at a nonpartisan

 

primary election, to a number equal to twice the number of places

 

to be filled as set forth in the report of the board of township

 

canvassers, based on the returns from the various election

 

precincts or as determined by the board of county canvassers as the

 

result of a recount, shall be declared the nominees for those

 

township offices at the next November election. The board of county

 

canvassers shall certify the nominations to the township clerk


within 48 hours after the closing of the polls.

 

     (3) Within 4 days following the nonpartisan primary, the

 

township clerk shall deliver to the county clerk a list setting

 

forth the name, address, and office sought of each candidate

 

nominated at the nonpartisan primary.

 

     Sec. 357a. (1) This section only applies if a board of

 

trustees of a township adopts a resolution as provided under

 

section 345a.

 

     (2) If there are fewer nominees for the office of supervisor,

 

clerk, treasurer, or trustee than there are persons to be elected

 

because of the death or disqualification of a nominee less than 66

 

days before the general November election, then a person shall not

 

be elected at that general November election for that office for

 

which there is no nominee.

 

     Sec. 370. (1) Except as provided in section 370a or subsection

 

(2), if a vacancy occurs in an elective or appointive township

 

office, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the township

 

board, and the person appointed shall hold the office for the

 

remainder of the unexpired term.

 

     (2) If 1 or more vacancies occur in an elective township

 

office that cause the number of members serving on the township

 

board to be less than the minimum number of board members that is

 

required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by

 

the board, the board of county election commissioners shall make

 

temporary appointment of the number of members required to

 

constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the township

 

board. An official appointed under this subsection shall hold the


office only until the official's successor is elected or appointed

 

and qualified. An official who is temporarily appointed under this

 

subsection shall not vote on the appointment of himself or herself

 

to an elective or appointive township office.

 

     (3) If a township official submits a written resignation from

 

an elective township office, for circumstances other than a

 

resignation related to a recall election, that specifies a date and

 

time when the resignation is effective, the township board, within

 

30 days before that effective date and time, may appoint a person

 

to fill the vacancy at the effective date and time of the

 

resignation. The resigning official shall not vote on the

 

appointment.

 

     (4) Except as provided in subsection (5), if the township

 

board does not make an appointment under subsection (3), or if a

 

vacancy occurs in an elective township office and the vacancy is

 

not filled by the township board or the board of county election

 

commissioners within 45 days after the beginning of the vacancy,

 

the county clerk of the county in which the township is located

 

shall call a special election within 5 calendar days to fill the

 

vacancy. Not Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, not

 

later than 4 p.m. on the fifteenth calendar day after the county

 

clerk calls a special election under this section, the township

 

party committee for each political party in the township shall

 

submit a nominee to fill the vacancy. If a board of trustees of a

 

township adopts a resolution as provided in section 345a, to obtain

 

the printing upon the special election ballot of the name of a

 

person as a candidate for a vacant township office, there shall be


filed with the township clerk nominating petitions, in the form

 

prescribed in section 544a, signed by a number of qualified and

 

registered electors residing within the township determined under

 

section 544f. If a board of trustees of a township adopts a

 

resolution as provided in section 345a, the township clerk shall

 

receive nominating petitions for a vacant township office up to 4

 

p.m. on the fifteenth calendar day after the county clerk calls a

 

special election under this section, and within 4 days after the

 

last day for filing nominating petitions, the township clerk shall

 

deliver to the county clerk a list setting forth the name and

 

address of each candidate who has qualified to be placed on the

 

special election ballot for that vacant township office. The

 

special election shall be held on the next regular election date

 

that is not less than 60 days after the deadline for submitting

 

nominees under this section or 70 days after the deadline for

 

submitting nominees under this section if the next regular election

 

date is the even year August primary or the general November

 

election. Notice of the special election shall be given in the same

 

manner required by section 653a. A special election called under

 

this section does not affect the rights of a qualified elector to

 

register for any other election. A person elected to fill a vacancy

 

shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

 

     (5) Subsection (4) does not apply to the office of township

 

constable. If a vacancy occurs in the office of township constable,

 

the township board shall determine if and when the vacancy shall be

 

filled by appointment. If the township board does not fill the

 

vacancy by appointment, the office of township constable shall


remain vacant until the next general or special election in which

 

township offices are filled.

 

     Sec. 370a. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 370, if a

 

vacancy occurs in an elective or appointive township office, which

 

vacancy is filled by appointment by the township board or the board

 

of county election commissioners and the vacancy occurs more than 7

 

days before the nominating petition filing deadline as provided in

 

section 349 or 349b for the general November election that is not

 

the general November election at which a successor in office would

 

be elected if no vacancy, then the person appointed shall hold

 

office only until a successor is elected at the next general

 

November election in the manner provided by law and qualifies for

 

office. The successor shall hold the office for the remainder of

 

the unexpired term.

 

     Sec. 697. At Except as otherwise provided under section 699(2)

 

or (3), at the general November election, the names of the several

 

offices to be voted for shall be placed on the ballot substantially

 

in the following order in the years in which elections for such

 

those offices are held: Electors of president and vice-president of

 

the United States; governor and lieutenant governor; secretary of

 

state; attorney general; United States senator; representative in

 

congress; senator and representative in the state legislature;

 

members of the state board of education; regents of the university

 

University of Michigan; trustees of Michigan state university;

 

State University; governors of Wayne state university; State

 

University; county executive; prosecuting attorney; sheriff; clerk;

 

treasurer; register of deeds; auditor in counties electing an


auditor; mine inspector in counties electing a mine inspector;

 

county road commissioners; drain commissioners; coroners; and

 

surveyor. The following township officers shall be placed on the

 

same ballot as above described in substantially the following order

 

in the year in which elections for such those offices are held:

 

supervisor, clerk, treasurer, trustees, and constables.

 

     Sec. 699. (1) At Subject to subsections (2) and (3), at any

 

regular election, the names of the several nonpartisan offices to

 

be voted for shall be placed on a separate portion of the ballot

 

containing no party designation in the following order: justices of

 

the supreme court, judges of the court of appeals, judges of the

 

circuit court, judges of the probate court, judges of the district

 

court, community college board of trustees member, intermediate

 

school district board member, city officers, the following village

 

officers in substantially the following order in the year in which

 

elections for the offices are held: president, clerk, treasurer,

 

and trustees, and in a year in which an election for the office is

 

held, local school district board member, metropolitan district

 

officer, and district library board member.

 

     (2) If a county board of commissioners adopts a resolution as

 

provided under section 192a, 223b, or 253a, the names of the

 

nonpartisan county offices to be voted for shall be placed on a

 

separate portion of the ballot containing no party designation as

 

provided in subsection (1) and shall appear after intermediate

 

school district board members and before city officers.

 

     (3) If a board of trustees of a township adopts a resolution

 

as provided under section 345a, the names of the nonpartisan


township offices to be voted shall be placed on a separate portion

 

of the ballot containing no party designation as provided in

 

subsection (1) and shall appear after city officers and before

 

village officers.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.