SEPTEMBER PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Senate Bill 1258 

Sponsor:  Sen. Cameron S. Brown

Senate Bill 1259

Sponsor:  Sen. Michelle A. McManus

House Committee:  Ethics and Elections

Senate Committee:  Campaign and Election Oversight

Complete to 6-29-10

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILLS 1258 (S-1) & 1259 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 6-17-10

Senate Bill 1258 (S-1) would amend the Michigan Election Law (MCL 168.322) to delete the deadline for filing a nominating petition for a city's September primary election.  Related legislation, found in both Senate Bill 1260 and House Bill 6248, would move city primary elections previously held in September of odd numbered years to the odd year primary in August.

Further, the bill would add language regarding the filing deadline for February primary elections and May elections.  The bill specifies that for the name of a political party's candidate for a city office (including a ward office) to appear under the particular party heading on the official February primary election ballot, a nominating petition must be filed with the city clerk by 4 p.m. of the 12th Tuesday before the February primary. The language in that section referring to an August primary would be struck, as would references to political parties.

Finally, the bill specifies that if a charter provided for nomination by caucus or by filing a petition or affidavit directly for the May election, the candidate filing deadline or certification deadline would be 4 p.m. on the 12th Tuesday before the May election.

Senate Bill 1259 would amend the Michigan Election Law (MCL 168.381) to refer to a village's September election, rather than September primary election, in regard to a nominating petition deadline.  Now under the law, if a village council adopts a resolution to hold its regular election at the September primary election, the nominating petitions for village offices to be filled at the September primary election must be filed with the village clerk by 4 p.m. on the 12th Tuesday before the September primary election.  Senate Bill 1259 would delete "primary" from those provisions, so that they would apply instead to a "September election."

(These bills are part of a four bill package, Senate Bills 1257-1260.  See the SFA floor summary dated 5-27-10.  There is a similar package of House Bills, House Bills 6246-6250.  See the HFA committee summaries of House Bills 6247 and 6248.)

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bills would have no fiscal impact on state or local government.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Ben Gielczyk

■ 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.