An act to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled “An act to reorganize, consolidate, and add to the election laws; to provide for election officials and prescribe their powers and duties; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state departments, state agencies, and state and local officials and employees; to provide for the nomination and election of candidates for public office; to provide for the resignation, removal, and recall of certain public officers; to provide for the filling of vacancies in public office; to provide for and regulate primaries and elections; to provide for the purity of elections; to guard against the abuse of the elective franchise; to define violations of this act; to provide appropriations; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; and to repeal certain acts and all other acts inconsistent with this act,” by amending section 31a (MCL 168.31a), as amended by 2018 PA 603.
Authorizes the Secretary of State to audit election precincts post-election and prescribes detailed procedures for conducting these audits, including reviewing documents, ballots, and procedures as per the state constitution. The act mandates training and certification for county clerks and their staff or designees to conduct audits, which must include at least one race per selected precinct and one statewide race or ballot question for statewide audits. It specifies that audits are not recounts and do not alter certified results. Additionally, it restricts county clerks involved in political parties from conducting audits, requiring them to appoint a non-political party member as a designee.
Introduced
by
Referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics
Reported without amendment
Referred to the Committee of the Whole
Reported without amendment
1. Amend page 2, line 20, after “(3)” by striking out “If” and inserting “Except as otherwise provided under subsection (5), if”.
2. Amend page 3, following line 4, by inserting:
“(5) A county clerk who is an officer or member of the governing body of a national, state, or local political party may, in order to conduct an election audit as required under this section, request from the political party a temporary suspension from being an officer or member of the governing body from the date of an election until the postelection audit for that election is complete, and if that request for a temporary suspension is granted by the political party, the county clerk may conduct an election audit as required under this section.”.
The amendment failed by voice vote
Passed in the Senate 20 to 18 (details)
Referred to the Committee on Elections
Discharged from committee
Passed in the House 56 to 53 (details)
Motion to give immediate effect
by
The motion prevailed by voice vote
