PRE-REGISTRATION TO VOTE AT AGE 16

House Bill 5792

Sponsor:  Rep. Steve Bieda

Committee:  Ethics and Elections

Complete to 4-28-08

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5792 AS INTRODUCED 2-21-08

House Bill 5792 would amend the Michigan Election Law (MCL 168.496a) to allow young people to pre-register to vote beginning at age 16.

The bill specifies that a person could pre-register to vote at a Secretary of State Office, if he or she met all of the following requirements:

o                   Was at least 16 years of age but less than 17 1/2 of age.

o                   Had been issued either a graduated license to operate a motor vehicle, or an official state personal identification card.

o                   Was a citizen of the United States.

o                   Had been a resident of Michigan for at least 30 days.

A person who pre-registered would become a registered elector at age 17 1/2, and would become eligible to vote on his or her 18th birthday.

Under the bill, the Secretary of State would be required to provide the pre-registration form; add the required voter registration information to the Qualified Voter File for each person who was automatically registered; and, transmit that information to the clerk of the city, township, or village where the pre-registered elector resided when he or she turned 17 1/2 years of age.  When the local clerk received the information, he or she would send the pre-registered elector a voter identification card.  (If the voter identification card was returned to the clerk, the clerk would reject the voter registration.)

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 5792 would have no significant fiscal impact on the State of Michigan or local units of government.  Any fiscal impact would be related to increased administrative workload and computer programming changes that would be necessary under the provisions of the bill.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Bay Wild

■ 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.