TOWNSHIP POLLING PLACES - H.B. 5179 (H-1): COMMITTEE SUMMARY
sans-serif">House Bill 5179 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Gary A. Newell
House Committee: Local Government and Urban Policy
Senate Committee: Government Operations
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to allow a township to provide a polling place outside of the township’s boundaries, under particular circumstances.
Under the Law, the legislative body of each city, village, and township must designate the place of holding an election for a city, village, or township election, and provide a suitable polling place in or for each precinct located in that local unit. As a rule, publicly owned or controlled buildings, such as schools and fire stations, must be used as polling places. If such a building is not available, the city, township, or village may use a building owned or controlled by an organization that is exempt from Federal income tax.
Under the bill, if two contiguous townships used a combined township hall or other publicly owned or controlled building within one of the township’s boundaries and outside of the other township’s boundaries, and if another publicly owned or controlled building or a building owned or controlled by a tax-exempt organization were not available or suitable for a polling place within the other township, then each township board could provide a polling place in that publicly owned building for one or more election precincts.
MCL 168.662 - Legislative Analyst: Suzanne Lowe
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would result in an indeterminate amount of savings to local units of government.
- Fiscal Analyst: Bill BowermanS0304\s5179sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.