HOUSE BILL No. 5075 September 23, 1997, Introduced by Reps. Hammerstrom and Brackenridge and referred to the Committee on Local Government. A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled "Michigan election law," by amending sections 31 and 796a (MCL 168.31 and 168.796a), as amended by 1996 PA 583. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT: 1 Sec. 31. The secretary of state in addition to other powers 2 and duties conferred upon him or her shall have the power and it 3 shall be his or her duty: 4 (a) To prepare rules, regulations, and instructions for the 5 conduct of elections and registrations in accordance with the 6 laws of this state. 7 (b) To advise and direct local election officials as to the 8 proper methods of conducting elections. 9 (c) To publish and furnish for the use in each election 10 precinct prior to each state primary and election a manual of 02232'97 KKR 2 1 instructions that shall include specific instructions on 2 assisting voters in casting their ballots, directions on the 3 location of voting stations in polling places, procedures and 4 forms for processing challenges, and procedures on prohibiting 5 campaigning in the polling places as prescribed in this act. 6 (d) To publish indexed pamphlet copies of the registration, 7 primary, and election laws and to furnish to the various county, 8 city, township, and village clerks a sufficient number of copies 9 for their own use and to enable them to include 1 copy with the 10 election supplies furnished each precinct board of election 11 inspectors under their respective jurisdictions, and the secre- 12 tary of state may furnish single copies of the publications to 13 organizations or individuals who request the same for purposes of 14 instruction or public reference. 15 (e) To prescribe and require such uniform forms, notices, 16 and supplies as the secretary of state considers advisable for 17 use in the conduct of elections and registrations. 18 (f) To prepare the form of ballot for any proposed amendment 19 to the constitution or proposal under the initiative or referen- 20 dum provision of the constitution to be submitted to the voters 21 of this state. 22 (g) To require such reports from the local election offi- 23 cials as the secretary of state considers necessary. 24 (h) To investigate, or cause to be investigated by local 25 authorities, the administration of election laws, and to report 26 violations of the election laws and regulations to the attorney 27 general or prosecuting attorney, or both, for prosecution. 02232'97 3 1 (i) To publish in the legislative manual the vote for 2 governor and secretary of state by townships and wards and the 3 vote for members of the state legislature cast at the preceding 4 November election, which shall be returned to the secretary of 5 state by the several county clerks on or before the first day of 6 December following such election, and it shall be the further 7 duty of all clerks to furnish to the secretary of state, promptly 8 and without compensation, any further information requested of 9 them, to be used in the compilation of the manual. 10 (j) To establish a curriculum for comprehensive training and 11 accreditation of all county, city, township, village, and school 12 elections officials. 13 (k) To establish and require attendance by all new APPOINTED 14 OR ELECTED election officials at an initial course of instruction 15 within 6 monthsofBEFORE the date of the election. 16 (l) To establish a comprehensive training curriculum for all 17 precinct inspectors. 18 (m) To create an election day dispute resolution team that 19 has regional representatives of the department of state, which 20 team shall appear on site, if necessary. 21 Sec. 796a. (1) Before an election at which an electronic 22 voting system is used, the board of election commissioners of the 23 county, city, village, township, or school district shall have 24 the system prepared for the election. The board shall provide 25 the election board of each voting precinct with the necessary 26 equipment and supplies. 02232'97 4 1 (2) Before an election, THE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS 2 OF A COUNTY, CITY, VILLAGE, TOWNSHIP, OR SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL 3 PROVIDE a sufficient number of voting stationsshall be4providedas needed to ensure the orderly conduct of the 5 election., but in no case shall less than 1 voting station be6providedFOR EACH ELECTION OTHER THAN THE GENERAL NOVEMBER ELEC- 7 TION, THE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS SHALL PROVIDE AT LEAST 8 1 VOTING STATION FOR EACH 400 REGISTERED VOTERS IN EACH 9 PRECINCT. FOR EACH GENERAL NOVEMBER ELECTION, THE BOARD OF ELEC- 10 TION COMMISSIONERS SHALL PROVIDE AT LEAST 1 VOTING STATION for 11 each 200 registered voters in each precinct. If counting centers 12 are used, the board of election commissioners of the county, 13 city, village, township, or school district shall establish 1 or 14 more counting centers as needed before the election. 02232'97 Final page. KKR