POLLING PLACE INFORMATION - S.B. 350 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS

sans-serif">Senate Bill 350 (Substitute S-2 as reported)

Sponsor: Senator Cameron S. Brown

Committee: Government Operations

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to replace provisions regarding the posting of certain information at polling places.

Currently, the Election Law requires county clerks to print large cards or posters containing information about voter qualification challenges by election officials, and requires the information to be displayed in each precinct. The Election Law also requires the Secretary of State to furnish two large placards of voting instructions to be displayed in each polling place. The bill would delete these provisions.

The bill would require the Secretary of State to furnish to each county clerk, at State expense, for each precinct two voter information displays. The displays would have to be in at least 18-point type and contain the hours that the polls would be open; voting instructions; information on an individual’s right to obtain a provisional ballot and instructions on how to vote a provisional ballot; information on the identification requirements that apply to voters who register by mail; instructions on how to contact the appropriate election official about alleged voting rights violations; information on the Federal and State laws that prohibit fraud and misrepresentation; information on how to challenge another voter as unqualified to vote; and other information that the Secretary of State considered necessary.

The bill would require local elections officials to provide to each precinct for display, two voter information displays and an instruction ballot. The board of election inspectors in each precinct would have to post these items in the polling place in a conspicuous place, before the polls opened on election day. At an elector’s request, the local election official would have to have available a means to provide the information in an alternative format.

The bill would delete a requirement that the Secretary of State furnish a copy of the Election Law and the manual of instructions for each precinct board of election inspectors.

MCL 168.666 et al. - Legislative Analyst: George Towne

FISCAL IMPACT

Federal Help America Vote Act funds could be used to fund the cost of the informational displays. No specific cost estimate is available from the Department of State at this time.

Date Completed: 12-16-03 - Fiscal Analyst: Bill BowermanFloor\sb350 - Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa

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.