HOUSE BILL No. 6193

 

 

June 12, 2018, Introduced by Reps. Calley, Marino, Webber and LaSata and referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics.

 

     A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled

 

"Michigan election law,"

 

by amending section 558 (MCL 168.558), as amended by 2014 PA 94.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 558. (1) When filing a nominating petition, qualifying

 

petition, filing fee, or affidavit of candidacy for a federal,

 

county, state, city, township, village, metropolitan district, or

 

school district office in any election, a candidate shall file with

 

the officer with whom the petitions, fee, or affidavit is filed 2

 

copies of an affidavit of identity. A candidate nominated for a

 

federal, state, county, city, township, or village office at a

 

political party convention or caucus shall file an affidavit of

 

identity within 1 business day after being nominated with the

 

secretary of state. The affidavit of identity filing requirement

 

does not apply to a candidate nominated for the office of president


President of the United States or vice president Vice President of

 

the United States.

 

     (2) An affidavit of identity shall must contain the

 

candidate's name , and residential address; , and ward and precinct

 

where registered, if qualified to vote at that election; a

 

statement that the candidate is a citizen of the United States; the

 

candidate's number of years of residence in the state and county;

 

the title of the office sought; a statement that the candidate

 

meets the constitutional and statutory qualifications for the

 

office sought; other information that may be required to satisfy

 

the officer as to the identity of the candidate; and the manner in

 

which the candidate wishes to have his or her name appear on the

 

ballot. ; and a statement that the candidate either is or is not

 

using a name, whether a given name, a surname, or otherwise, that

 

is not a name that he or she was given at birth. If a candidate is

 

using a name that is not a name that he or she was given at birth,

 

the candidate shall include on the affidavit of identity the

 

candidate's full former name.

 

     (3) The requirement to indicate a name change on the affidavit

 

of identity does not apply if the name in question is 1 of the

 

following:

 

     (a) A name that was formally changed at least 10 years before

 

filing as a candidate.

 

     (b) A name that was changed in a certificate of naturalization

 

issued by a federal district court at the time the individual

 

became a naturalized citizen at least 10 years before filing as a

 

candidate.


     (c) A name that was changed because of marriage.

 

     (d) A name that was changed because of divorce, but only if to

 

a legal name by which the individual was previously known.

 

     (e) A name that constitutes a common law name as provided in

 

section 560b.

 

     (4) An affidavit of identity shall must include a statement

 

that as of the date of the affidavit, all statements, reports, late

 

filing fees, and fines required of the candidate or any candidate

 

committee organized to support the candidate's election under the

 

Michigan campaign finance act, 1976 PA 388, MCL 169.201 to 169.282,

 

have been filed or paid; and a statement that the candidate

 

acknowledges that making a false statement in the affidavit is

 

perjury, punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00 or imprisonment for

 

up to 5 years, or both. If a candidate files the affidavit of

 

identity with an officer other than the county clerk or secretary

 

of state, the officer shall immediately forward to the county clerk

 

1 copy of the affidavit of identity by first-class mail. The county

 

clerk shall immediately forward 1 copy of the affidavit of identity

 

for state and federal candidates to the secretary of state by

 

first-class mail. An officer shall not certify to the board of

 

election commissioners the name of a candidate who fails to comply

 

with this section, or the name of a candidate who executes an

 

affidavit of identity that contains a false statement with regard

 

to any information or statement required under this section.

 

     (5) If petitions or filing fees are filed by or in on behalf

 

of a candidate for more than 1 office, either federal, state,

 

county, city, village, township, metropolitan district, or school


district, the terms of which run concurrently or overlap, the

 

candidate so filing, or in on behalf of whom petitions or fees were

 

so filed, shall select the 1 office to which his or her candidacy

 

is restricted within 3 days after the last day for the filing of

 

petitions or filing fees unless the petitions or filing fees are

 

filed for 2 offices that are combined or for offices that are not

 

incompatible. Failure to make the selection disqualifies a

 

candidate with respect to each office for which petitions or fees

 

were so filed and the name of the candidate shall must not be

 

printed upon the ballot for those offices. A vote cast for that

 

candidate at the ensuing primary or general election shall must not

 

be counted and is void.

 

     (6) A violation of this section for perjury is distinct and

 

separate from any violation of the Michigan campaign finance act,

 

1976 PA 388, MCL 169.201 to 169.282.