ELEC. AUDIT; PROHIBIT POLITICAL LEADER S.B. 570:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 570 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Senator Mallory McMorrow
Committee: Elections and Ethics
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to prohibit a county clerk from conducting an election audit if the clerk served as an officer, member, or precinct delegate of a political party. Instead, the clerk would have to appoint a designee.
After each election, the Secretary of State (SOS) may audit election precincts. The Law requires the SOS and county clerks to conduct these election audits as prescribed; however, the bill would prohibit a county clerk from having any role in the direction, supervision, or conduct of an election audit if that clerk were an officer or member of the governing body of a national, State, or local political party, or was a precinct delegate of a political party. Instead, the county clerk would have to appoint a designee to conduct any election audit in that county. A designee could not be an officer, member, or precinct delegate of the governing body of a national, State, or local political party.
BRIEF RATIONALE
In 2022, Proposal 2 amended the State Constitution to prohibit political party members, officers, and precinct delegates from having any role in the direction, supervision, or conduction of an election audit. Under current Law, when a county clerk wins an election, the clerk is automatically designated a spot on the Democratic or Republican party executive committee. Because current Law contradicts the Constitution, it has been suggested that the Law be amended.
Legislative Analyst: Abby Schneider
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 10-27-23 Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco, Jr.
Bobby Canell
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.