October 28, 2003, Introduced by Reps. Garfield, Nofs, Ruth Johnson, Meyer, Brandenburg, Plakas, Stahl, Acciavatti, Robertson, Palmer and Milosch and referred to the Committee on Local Government and Urban Policy.
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, by amending sections 1 and 6 of article II,
to permit nonresidents who pay ad valorem property tax on real
property located in a political subdivision the right to vote on
local issues, tax limit increases, or bond issues.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, to permit nonresidents who pay ad valorem
property tax on real property located in a political subdivision
the right to vote on local issues, tax limit increases, or bond
issues, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the people of
the state:
1 ARTICLE II
2 Sec. 1. Every citizen of the United States who has attained
3 the age of 21 years, who has resided in this state six months,
1 and who meets the requirements of local residence provided by
2 law, shall be an elector and qualified to vote in any election
3 except as otherwise provided in this constitution. The
4 legislature shall define residence for voting purposes. For
5 purposes of registering to vote and voting at an election,
6 special election, or primary election on a real property tax
7 issue or a local proposal or local question that affects real
8 property only, a person is considered a resident of any political
9 subdivision to be affected by the result of that election in
10 which that person owns, and has paid all assessed ad valorem
11 property taxes on, real property.
12 Sec. 6. Whenever any question is required to be submitted
13 by a political subdivision to the electors for the increase of
14 the ad valorem tax rate limitation imposed by Section 6 of
15 Article IX for a period of more than five years, or for the issue
16 of bonds, only electors in,
and who have property assessed for
17 any ad valorem taxes in ,
any part of the district or territory
18 to be affected by the result of such election or electors who are
19 the lawful husbands or wives of such persons shall be entitled to
20 vote thereon. All
electors in of the district or territory
21 affected may vote on all other questions.
22 Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be
23 submitted to the people of the state at the next general election
24 in the manner provided by law.