BALLOT PROPOSALS ONLY AT REGULAR ELECTIONS
House Bills 4592-4595
Sponsor: Rep. Ruth Johnson
Committee: Redistricting and Elections
Complete to 4-23-01
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 4592-4595 AS INTRODUCED 4-17-01
House Bill 4592 would amend several sections of the Michigan Election Law (MCL 168.358a, et al.) to require, generally speaking, that votes on ballot questions, public questions, or other propositions be held on the same day as regularly scheduled elections rather than at separate special elections. House Bills 4593-4595 would each amend a different act toward that same end and each is tie-barred to House Bill 4592.
House Bill 4592 would amend several sections of the election law. Section 358a, which applies to special elections called by township boards, would be amended to require such an election be held at a regularly scheduled primary election or general election. Section 635, which currently allows propositions to be voted on at any regular or special primary day, would be amended to require instead that such questions be put to voters on the same date as a regularly scheduled primary election or general election. Sections 649 and 707 apply to constitutional amendments or other special questions to be voted on statewide and to city ordinances subject to referendum in cities with a population of over 500,000. The bill would allow constitutional questions to be put before voters only at the next general election and would allow city ordinances subject to referendum to be put before voters at the next regularly scheduled primary election or general election. (The provisions in the bill would not apply in cases involving special elections held due to cases of defects and malfunctions in election equipment and materials.)
House Bill 4593 would amend the Township and Village Public Improvement and Public Service Act (MCL 78.4 et al.) to require that propositions on the subject of borrowing money and issuing bonds be put to the voters at the next regularly scheduled primary election or general election. Currently, such a vote can be held at the general election or at a special election held within 90 days after the adoption of the resolution submitting the question to the voters.
House Bill 4594 would amend the Home Rule Village Act (MCL 78.4 et al.) so that votes on incorporation, consolidation, or a change of boundaries; on a general charter revision; and on an amendment to a existing village charter would have to be held at a regularly scheduled election and could not be voted on at a special election.
House Bill 4595 would amend Public Act 293 of 1966 (MCL 45.503 and 45.516), which allows for the establishment of charter counties. The question of whether to elect a charter commission for the purpose of framing a county home rule charter would have to be submitted to voters at the next regular primary, presidential primary, or general election. Currently, such a question could be the subject of any of those elections or, if no such election was to be held
within 180 days, a special election. Similarly, the vote on a proposed charter would have to be submitted at the time of the next regular primary or general election. Currently, such a question can be put to voters at the next regular primary election or, if there is not to be a primary election within 180 days, a special election.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.