S.B. 980 (S-2): COMMITTEE SUMMARY - VOTER REGISTRATION AGENCY
Senate Bill 980 (Substitute S-2)
Sponsor: Senator Joel D. Gougeon
Committee: Hunting, Fishing and Forestry
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to provide that the following could be designated voter registration agencies: a location where the sale of hunting and fishing licenses was authorized under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, and a location where firearms were sold to the public by a person licensed under Federal law to sell firearms.
Currently, a recruitment office of the armed forces of the United States is a designated voter agency pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act. Further, the Act required the Governor by February 9, 1995, to provide a list to the Secretary of State designating the executive departments, State agencies, or other offices that will perform voter registration activities in the State.
Under the Act, a designated voter registration agency must transmit to the Secretary of State a report, which includes necessary information requested by the Secretary of State to administer the qualified voter file provisions of the Michigan Election Law and the National Voter Registration Act, and any other necessary information. The bill specifies that this provision would not apply to the following designated voter registration agencies (as proposed by the bill): a location where the sale of hunting and fishing licenses was authorized under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, and a location where firearms were sold to the public by a person licensed under Federal law to sell firearms. The bill also would add that the Secretary of State could not request a report from these specific designated voter registration agencies.
MCL 168.509u & 168.509ee - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata
FISCAL IMPACT
Because the number of people who may register to vote at a place where firearms and hunting and fishing licenses are sold is unknown, the fiscal impact on State government is indeterminate.
There would not be any additional administrative costs to local government by making places where hunting and fishing licenses or firearms are sold voter registration sites.
S9798\S980SA
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.