SENATE BILL No. 673

September 26, 2001, Introduced by Senators BYRUM, SCOTT, SMITH, HART, PETERS, MURPHY, YOUNG, DE BEAUSSAERT, CHERRY, EMERSON and KOIVISTO

and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled

"Michigan election law,"

by amending section 720 (MCL 168.720) and by adding section

720a.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1 Sec. 720. (1) On the day of any AN election, the polls

2 shall be opened OPEN at 7 o'clock in the forenoon, A.M. and

3 shall be continuously open until 8 o'clock in the afternoon and

4 no longer P.M. Every EACH qualified elector present and in

5 line at the polls at the hour prescribed for the closing

6 thereof TIME shall be allowed to vote.

7 (2) IN A PILOT JURISDICTION CONDUCTING EARLY VOTING UNDER

8 SECTION 720A, THE CLERK CONDUCTING THE ELECTION SHALL DESIGNATE

9 THE HOURS THE POLLS WILL OPEN AND CLOSE. THE CLERK SHALL POST

10 THE HOURS THAT THE POLLS WILL BE OPEN AT EACH EARLY VOTING

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1 POLLING PLACE AND SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE TO ELECTORS OF THE

2 LOCATION OF EACH EARLY VOTING POLLING PLACE AND THE DATES AND

3 HOURS THE EARLY VOTING POLLING PLACE WILL BE OPEN. THE NOTICE TO

4 ELECTORS SHALL SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLY WITH THE FORM IN SECTION

5 653A.

6 SEC. 720A. (1) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2002 AND THROUGH

7 DECEMBER 31, 2004, THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL ESTABLISH A PILOT

8 PROJECT TO TEST EARLY VOTING. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL

9 APPROVE A PLAN FOR EARLY VOTING SUBMITTED BY A LOCAL JURISDICTION

10 IF IT MEETS THE GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE SECRETARY OF

11 STATE. THE GUIDELINES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE

12 FOLLOWING:

13 (A) PILOT JURISDICTIONS SHALL VARY IN THE SIZE OF

14 POPULATION.

15 (B) PILOT JURISDICTIONS SHALL REPRESENT DIVERSE GEOGRAPHICAL

16 REGIONS OF THIS STATE.

17 (C) THE PLAN SUBMITTED BY A LOCAL JURISDICTION SHALL CONTAIN

18 A COMMITMENT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BODY OF THE LOCAL JURISDICTION

19 TO CONDUCT EARLY VOTING.

20 (2) THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE

21 HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES THAT CONSIDER ELECTION ISSUES ON OR

22 BEFORE JANUARY 15, 2005. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL INCLUDE

23 ALL OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN THE REPORT FOR EACH ELECTION

24 HELD BY EARLY VOTING IN EACH PILOT JURISDICTION:

25 (A) THE COST OF HOLDING AN ELECTION BY EARLY VOTING.

26 (B) THE LEVEL OF VOTER PARTICIPATION FOR EARLY VOTING.

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1 (C) THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE REGARDING

2 STATEWIDE EARLY VOTING.

3 (D) OTHER INFORMATION THE SECRETARY OF STATE CONSIDERS

4 RELEVANT.

5 (3) THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL COOPERATE WITH A PILOT

6 JURISDICTION CONDUCTING EARLY VOTING AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL

7 ASSISTANCE TO A PILOT JURISDICTION REQUESTING TECHNICAL

8 ASSISTANCE.

9 (4) A PILOT JURISDICTION CONDUCTING EARLY VOTING SHALL

10 FOLLOW THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT REGARDING ALL OF THE

11 FOLLOWING:

12 (A) SELECTION OF AN EARLY VOTING POLLING PLACE.

13 (B) ELECTION INSPECTORS.

14 (C) CHALLENGES TO VOTERS.

15 (D) POLL BOOK AND POLL LIST.

16 (E) NOTICES, INSTRUCTIONS, AND PLACARDS.

17 (F) SECURITY OF A VOTING MACHINE OR OTHER VOTING SYSTEM.

18 (G) BALLOT SECURITY, BALLOT CONTAINERS, BALLOT COUNTING, AND

19 BALLOT PRESERVATION.

20 (5) "EARLY VOTING", AS USED IN SECTION 720 AND THIS SECTION,

21 MEANS THE PERIOD OF TIME FROM 5 DAYS BEFORE A PRIMARY, GENERAL,

22 OR SPECIAL ELECTION THROUGH THE DAY BEFORE A PRIMARY, GENERAL, OR

23 SPECIAL ELECTION WHEN A QUALIFIED AND REGISTERED ELECTOR MAY VOTE

24 IN PERSON AT A POLLING PLACE DESIGNATED BY THE CLERK CONDUCTING

25 THE ELECTION.

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