April 25, 2007, Introduced by Senators McMANUS, RICHARDVILLE, BIRKHOLZ, KUIPERS, VAN WOERKOM, PATTERSON, KAHN, JANSEN, STAMAS and PRUSI and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled
"Michigan election law,"
by amending section 509u (MCL 168.509u), as added by 1994 PA 441,
and by adding section 499a.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 499a. (1) Unless an applicant specifically declines to
register to vote or fails to sign the voter registration portion of
the application, each application to obtain a resident hunting,
fishing, or fur harvester's license under part 435 of the natural
resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL
324.43501 to 324.43561, by an applicant who is not less than 18
years of age or will be not less than 18 years of age by the next
election or primary election shall also serve as an application for
voter registration.
(2) The secretary of state and the director of the department
of natural resources shall develop procedures and forms necessary
to comply with this section.
(3) The forms developed under subsection (2) shall meet all of
the following requirements:
(a) Include any information required on other voter
registration applications under this act.
(b) Not require an applicant to duplicate any information
required in the resident hunting, fishing, or fur harvester's
portion of the application with the exception of a second
signature.
(c) State each eligibility requirement contained in section
492.
(d) Include the penalties provided by law for submitting false
information on a voter registration application.
(e) Include a statement that if an applicant declines to
register to vote, the fact that the applicant has declined to
register will remain confidential.
(4) When an application is received, the department of natural
resources and those persons designated by the department of natural
resources to issue and sell a resident hunting, fishing, or fur
harvester's license under part 435 of the natural resources and
environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.43501 to
324.43561, shall do all of the following:
(a) Validate the application in the manner prescribed by the
secretary of state.
(b) Issue a receipt to the applicant verifying the acceptance
of the application.
(5) A person designated by the department of natural resources
to issue and sell a resident hunting, fishing, or fur harvester's
license under part 435 of the natural resources and environmental
protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.43501 to 324.43561, shall not
do any of the following:
(a) Seek to influence an applicant's political preference.
(b) Display on his or her person any political preference or
allegiance to any political party or group.
(c) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the
purpose or effect of which is to discourage the applicant from
applying to register to vote.
(d) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the
purpose or effect of which is to lead the applicant to believe that
a decision to apply or not to apply to register to vote has any
bearing on the availability of services or benefits.
(6) The department of natural resources and those persons
designated by the department of natural resources to issue and sell
a resident hunting, fishing, or fur harvester's license under part
435 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994
PA 451, MCL 324.43501 to 324.43561, shall transmit the completed
applications for voter registration to the secretary of state at
the end of each business day. The secretary of state shall forward
the applications to the appropriate local clerk to determine
eligibility of the applicant and, if the applicant is found
eligible, to add the applicant's name to the qualified voter file.
(7) The department of natural resources shall maintain
statistical records on the number of voter registrations and
declinations as requested by the secretary of state.
(8) Information relating to an applicant declining to sign a
voter registration application shall not be used for any purpose
other than voter registration and is subject to the provisions of
section 509gg.
Sec.
509u. (1) Not later than the thirtieth day after the
effective
date of this section February
9, 1995, the governor shall
provide a list to the secretary of state designating the executive
departments, state agencies, or other offices that will perform
voter registration activities in this state.
(2) Pursuant to the national voter registration act of 1993, a
recruitment office of the armed forces of the United States is a
designated voter registration agency under this act.
(3) Pursuant to the requirements of section 499a, the
department of natural resources and those persons designated by the
department of natural resources to issue and sell a resident
hunting, fishing, or fur harvester's license under part 435 of the
natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451,
MCL 324.43501 to 324.43561, may perform voter registration
activities in this state.