OPEN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY H.B. 4435 (H-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 4435 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment) Sponsor: Representative Ken Sikkema
House Committee: Local Government Senate Committee: Government Operations
The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to remove current provisions that require a voter to declare a party preference before being allowed to vote in a presidential primary; delete requirements that party preference be noted on various election documents; and prescribe the conditions under which a presidential primary candidate could clarify his or her party status and candidate status.
Currently, an election official in a presidential primary election may allow an elector to vote only if the elector’s registration contains a declaration of party preference; the elector may vote only for a candidate of that party. If an elector is registered with no party preference, he or she may not vote. The bill would delete these provisions, and provide instead that, except as otherwise prescribed in the Election Law, a statewide presidential primary election would have to be conducted under the provisions of the Election Law that govern the conduct of general primary elections.
Currently, the Election Law requires that the voter registration application, the voter registration, and the local voter registration list all contain a space indicating a voter’s declaration of party preference or no party preference. Further, the voter poll list maintained by the local election clerks must contain the name of the party ballot voted by an elector at a presidential primary. The bill would delete all of these provisions.
MCL 168.495 et al. Legislative Analyst: G. Towne
The bill would result in savings to the State. The State currently reimburses cities and townships for sending out registration cards solely for the purpose of party declaration. The Department of State estimates annual costs at $70,000.
Date Completed: 5-26-95 Fiscal Analyst: B. Bowerman
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.