FALSE ELECTION INFORMATION; PROHIBIT S.B. 707:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 707 (as introduced 2-6-24)
Sponsor: Senator Mary Cavanagh
Committee: Elections and Ethics
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to prescribe a civil fine of up to $1,000 per violation for an individual who made a false statement or misrepresentation about an election with the intent to impede or prevent another individual from voting and a civil fine of up to $10,000 for an employer who employed an individual for election-related purposes who had a violation.
Under the bill, an individual who intentionally made a false statement or misrepresentation to another individual concerning any of the following would be subject to a maximum civil fine of $1,000 for each violation:
-- The time, place, or manner of an election.
-- The qualifications for or restrictions on voter eligibility.
-- Criminal penalties associated with voting in an election.
-- An individual's voter registration status or eligibility.
A statement or misrepresentation would be considered intentionally made if the individual knew the statement or misrepresentation was false and made it with the intent to impede or prevent another individual from exercising the individual's right to vote in an election.
Additionally, an entity that employed, for an election-related purpose, an individual who violated the bill's prohibitions would be subject to a maximum civil fine of $10,000.
PREVIOUS LEGISLATION
(This section does not provide a comprehensive account of previous legislative efforts on this subject matter.)
The bill is a reintroduction of House Bill 5948 of the 2021-2022 Legislative Session.
Proposed MCL 168.931c Legislative Analyst: Abby Schneider
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill could have a positive fiscal impact on the State and local units of government. The bill would impose a civil fine of up to $10,000. Revenue collected from civil fines is used to support local libraries. Additionally, $10 of the civil fine would be deposited into the State Justice System Fund, which supports justice-related activities across State government in the Departments of Corrections, Health and Human Services, State Police, Treasury. The Fund also supports justice-related issues in the Legislative Retirement System and the Judiciary. The amount of revenue to the State or for local libraries is indeterminate and dependent on the actual number of violations.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco, Jr.
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.