HB-4068, As Passed House, February 17, 2015

SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 4068

A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled

"Michigan election law,"

by amending section 659 (MCL 168.659), as amended by 2014 PA 94.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 659. (1) ~~If a county, city, ward, township, village,~~

~~metropolitan district, or school district is divided into 2 or more~~

~~election precincts, the~~ The county, city, ~~ward,~~ or township ~~, or~~

~~village~~ election commissioners may, by resolution, consolidate the

election precincts for a particular election that is not a general

November election, primary election immediately before a general

November election, ~~or other statewide~~ or federal election. For a

statewide special election called to submit a proposed

constitutional amendment or other question to the electors of this

state that is not a general November election or a primary election

before a general November election, an election commission is only

authorized to consolidate those precincts having polling places

located in the same building. In making the determination to

consolidate election precincts for a particular election, the

election commission shall take into consideration the number of

choices the voter must make, the percentage of registered voters

who voted at the last similar election in the jurisdiction, and the

intensity of the interest of the electors in the jurisdiction

concerning the candidates and proposals to be voted upon.

Consolidated precincts shall not exceed 5,000 active registered

electors.

(2) A consolidation under this section shall be made not less

than 60 days before a primary, general, or special election.

(3) Unless the polling places for the election precincts to be

consolidated are located in the same building, when a county, city,

~~ward,~~ or township ~~, or village~~ consolidates election precincts for

a particular election under subsection (1), the election

commissioners or other designated election officials shall do both

of the following:

(a) Provide notice to the registered electors of the affected

election precincts of the consolidation of election precincts for

the particular election and the location of the polling place for

the election precinct or precincts for that election. Notice may be

provided by mail or other method designed to provide actual notice

to the registered electors.

(b) Post a written notice at each election precinct polling

place stating the location of the consolidated election precinct