January 30, 2003, Introduced by Senators HAMMERSTROM, JACOBS, BIRKHOLZ, BISHOP, CROPSEY, BERNERO and GOSCHKA and referred to the Committee on Local, Urban and State Affairs.
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled
"Michigan election law,"
(MCL 168.1 to 168.992) by adding section 659.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 659. (1) If a county, city, ward, township, or village
2 is divided into 2 or more election precincts, the county, city,
3 ward, township, or village election commissioners may, by
4 resolution, consolidate the election precincts for a particular
5 election that is not a general November election, a primary
6 election immediately before a general November election, or other
7 statewide or federal election. In making the determination to
8 consolidate election precincts for a particular election, the
9 election commission shall take into consideration the number of
10 choices the voter must make, the percentage of registered voters
11 who voted at the last similar election in the jurisdiction, and
1 the intensity of the interest of the electors in the jurisdiction
2 concerning the candidates and proposals to be voted upon.
3 (2) A consolidation under this section shall be made not less
4 than 60 days before a primary, general, or special election.
5 (3) Unless the polling places for the election precincts to
6 be consolidated are located in the same building, when a county,
7 city, ward, township, or village consolidates election precincts
8 for a particular election under subsection (1), the election
9 commissioners or other designated election officials shall do
10 both of the following:
11 (a) Provide notice to the registered electors of the affected
12 election precincts of the consolidation of election precincts for
13 the particular election and the location of the polling place for
14 the election precinct or precincts for that election. Notice may
15 be provided by mail or other method designed to provide actual
16 notice to the registered electors.
17 (b) Post a written notice at each election precinct polling
18 place stating the location of the consolidated election precinct
19 polling place.
20 (4) If a county, city, ward, township, or village
21 consolidates election precincts under this section, each affected
22 election precinct shall be treated as a whole unit and shall not
23 be divided during the consolidation.