YOUTH PRECINCT INSPECTORS - H.B. 4951 (H-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS

House Bill 4951 (Substitute H-1 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

Sponsor: Representative Beverly Hammerstrom

House Committee: Local Government

Senate Committee: Government Operations

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to allow persons who are 16 or 17 years old and a resident of the country in which they would serve to be appointed to a board of election inspectors, under certain conditions specified in the bill.

Currently, in every precinct at every election there must be a board of at least three election inspectors, and as many more as is "required for the efficient, speedy and proper conduct of such election...". The local election commission must appoint the election inspectors, and designate one inspector as the chairperson. A precinct election inspector must be a registered voter in the county in which he or she serves; have a good reputation; have sufficient education and clerical ability; and file a proper application. A person may not be appointed if any member of his or her family is a candidate at the election; if he or she has been convicted of a felony or election crime; or if he or she failed to attend an election school or take an election examination as required in the Election Law.

Under the bill, a person 16 or 17 years old would have to meet all of the requirements for appointment as an election inspector except that of being a registered voter; before a 16- or 17-year-old could be appointed, the first three members of the board of election inspectors would have to meet all of the requirements. A 16- or 17-year-old appointee would not be eligible to be designated as chairperson.

If a 16- or 17-year-old seeking appointment were attending a K-12 school, and if an election fell on a school day, the applicant would have to provide a written document from his or her school that acknowledged the person's application and specifically excused the applicant from school on election day if an appointment were made.

MCL 168.677 - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed: 11-10-97 - Fiscal Analyst: E. Limbs

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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.