BALLOT DELIVERY DEADLINES S.B. 1094 & 1096:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
[Please see the PDF version of this analysis, if available, to view this image.]
Senate Bills 1094 and 1096 (as introduced 1-27-10)
Sponsor: Senator Cameron S. Brown (S.B. 1094)
Senator John Pappageorge (S.B. 1096)
Committee: Campaign and Election Oversight
Date Completed: 2-2-10
CONTENT
The bills would amend the Michigan Election Law to revise the deadlines for the delivery of absent voter ballots to clerks. Senate Bill 1094 also would require city, township, and village clerks to meet certain deadlines for elections in which the county did not print ballots.
The bills are described in detail below.
Senate Bill 1094
Under the Law, each county clerk must deliver absent voter ballots for each precinct to the clerk of each township and city in the county. The delivery must be at the earliest possible time and at least 45 days before the general November election and the preceding August primary, and at least 20 days before any other election or primary election in the county. The bill would delete the 20-day deadline for other elections, and would required that absent voter ballots be delivered at least 45 days before a regular election or special election.
In addition, under the Law, each county clerk must deliver ballots, other than absent voter ballots, and election supplies to the clerk of each township and city in the county at least 10 days before any election or primary election.
The bill specifies that each city, township, and village clerk would have to adhere to the deadlines described above for elections in which the county did not print the ballots.
Senate Bill 1096
The Law requires each county board of commissioners to deliver the ballots required for any regular or special election or official primary election, wrapped and tied as required by the Law, to the county clerk at the earliest possible time after approval of the proof of the ballots. The board also must deliver absent voter ballots to the county clerk at least 47 days before the general November election and the preceding August primary and at least 22 days before any other election or primary. Under the bill, the absent voter ballots would have to be delivered to the county clerk at least 47 days before any election or primary.
MCL 168.714 (S.B. 1094) Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
168.713 (S.B. 1096)
FISCAL IMPACT
The bills would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco
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. sb1094&1096/0910