BD OF CO. CANVASSERS NOMINEES H.B. 5580 (H-1): COMMITTEE SUMMARY
House Bill 5580 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Scott Hummel
House Committee: House Oversight, Elections, and Ethics
Senate Committee: Government Operations
Date Completed: 11-27-06
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to require the nomination of "interested" people to a board of county canvassers; and allow a county board of commissioners, before electing a nominee to the board of county canvassers, and allow a county clerk, before appointing a nominee to fill a vacancy on that board, to request a nominee to provide the following in order to determine whether he or she was qualified for and interested in the position:
-- A letter signed by the nominee indicating an interest in serving on the board of county canvassers and an intent to discharge the duties of the position to the best of his or her ability.
-- Prior election experience, including canvassing elections.
-- Information on whether the nominee had been convicted of a felony or election crime.
Under the Election Law, the selection of members of a board of county canvassers must be made from each of the two political parties casting the greatest number of votes for Secretary of State at the preceding general November election in the county. The county committee of each political party must submit to the county clerk the names of three people for each position to which the party is entitled. The county board of commissioners must elect to each position one of the three nominees and appoint the person to the position.
If a vacancy occurs on a board of county canvassers, the county committee of the political party entitled to fill the vacancy must nominate three people for the position and submit the names to the county clerk. The county clerk must appoint one of the nominees.
Under the bill, a political party's county committee would have to submit the names of three "interested" people for a position or vacancy on the board of county canvassers. The county board of commissioners or the county clerk could request a nominee to submit the information described above.
MCL 168.24c & 168.24d Legislative Analyst: Suzanne Lowe
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: David Zin
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. hb5580/0506