USE OF OFFICIALS’ NAMES ON

BALLOT-RELATED MATERIALS

House Bill 4414 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Pamela Hornberger

Committee:  Elections and Ethics

Complete to 2-14-18

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4414 would amend Section 931a of the Michigan Election Code, which prohibits the names of elected or appointed officials from appearing on ballot-related material.

Currently, the names of elected or appointed officials may not appear on any ballot-related material that is provided to voters; violation of this provision is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $100 for a first offense and $250 for a subsequent offense.

The bill would retain that prohibition and add to it that the material may not include any contact information for an elected or appointed official that includes any part of the official’s name, such as an email address.

Additionally, the bill would amend the definition of ballot-related material. Currently, it includes any material provided with an absent voter ballot, the absent voter instructions, the envelope in which the materials were sent, and the absent voter ballot return envelope. The bill would add an absent voter ballot application and the materials provided with that application, including the return envelope.

The bill would take effect 90 days after enactment.

MCL 168.931a

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact on state government. The bill could result in nominal costs to local units of government if the prohibitions in the bill would require a reprinting of ballot-related material. These costs could range between a few hundred dollars up to approximately $3,000.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Jenny McInerney

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Michael Cnossen

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.