September 14, 2006, Introduced by Senator HAMMERSTROM and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled
"Michigan election law,"
by amending section 31 (MCL 168.31), as amended by 2005 PA 71, and
by adding section 864a.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 31. (1) The secretary of state shall do all of the
following:
(a)
Subject to subsection subsections (2) and (3),
issue
instructions and promulgate rules pursuant to the administrative
procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, for the
conduct of elections and registrations in accordance with the laws
of this state.
(b) Advise and direct local election officials as to the
proper methods of conducting elections.
(c) Publish and furnish for the use in each election precinct
before each state primary and election a manual of instructions
that includes specific instructions on assisting voters in casting
their ballots, directions on the location of voting stations in
polling places, procedures and forms for processing challenges, and
procedures on prohibiting campaigning in the polling places as
prescribed in this act.
(d) Publish indexed pamphlet copies of the registration,
primary, and election laws and furnish to the various county, city,
township, and village clerks a sufficient number of copies for
their own use and to enable them to include 1 copy with the
election supplies furnished each precinct board of election
inspectors under their respective jurisdictions. The secretary of
state may furnish single copies of the publications to
organizations or individuals who request the same for purposes of
instruction or public reference.
(e) Prescribe and require uniform forms, notices, and supplies
the secretary of state considers advisable for use in the conduct
of elections and registrations.
(f) Prepare the form of ballot for any proposed amendment to
the constitution or proposal under the initiative or referendum
provision of the constitution to be submitted to the voters of this
state.
(g) Require reports from the local election officials the
secretary of state considers necessary.
(h) Investigate, or cause to be investigated by local
authorities, the administration of election laws, and report
violations of the election laws and regulations to the attorney
general or prosecuting attorney, or both, for prosecution.
(i) Publish in the legislative manual the vote for governor
and secretary of state by townships and wards and the vote for
members of the state legislature cast at the preceding November
election, which shall be returned to the secretary of state by the
county clerks on or before the first day of December following the
election. All clerks shall furnish to the secretary of state,
promptly and without compensation, any further information
requested of them to be used in the compilation of the legislative
manual.
(j) Establish a curriculum for comprehensive training and
accreditation of all county, city, township, village, and school
elections officials.
(k) Establish and require attendance by all new appointed or
elected election officials at an initial course of instruction
within 6 months before the date of the election.
(l) Establish a comprehensive training curriculum for all
precinct inspectors.
(m) Create an election day dispute resolution team that has
regional representatives of the department of state, which team
shall appear on site, if necessary.
(2) Pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969,
1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, the secretary of state shall
promulgate rules establishing uniform standards for state and local
nominating, recall, and ballot question petition signatures. The
standards for petition signatures may include, but need not be
limited to, standards for all of the following:
(a) Determining the validity of registration of a circulator
or individual signing a petition.
(b) Determining the genuineness of the signature of a
circulator or individual signing a petition, including digitized
signatures.
(c) Proper designation of the place of registration of a
circulator or individual signing a petition.
(3) Pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969,
1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, the secretary of state shall
promulgate rules establishing uniform standards for conducting
recounts.
Sec. 864a. A board of canvassers conducting a recount shall
conduct the recount in accordance with the provisions of this act
and the rules promulgated by the secretary of state under section
31(3).
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect January
1, 2007.