ELEC. AUDIT; PROHIBIT POLITICAL LEADER S.B. 570:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 570 (as introduced 10-10-23) (Senate-passed version)
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.
BACKGROUND
In July 2022, Promote the Vote, a coalition of Michigan organizations active in elections, circulated a petition proposing several constitutional amendments concerning voting rights. Among other amendments, the petition included a provision prohibiting an officer or member of the governing board of a national, State, or local political party, and a political party precinct delegate, from having any role in an election audit.[1] Promote the Vote submitted the petition to the Michigan Bureau of Elections after gathering enough signatures for the ballot initiative that became Proposal 22-2. Proposal 22-2 passed with 59.99% of the vote during the 2022 November general election.[2]
Legislative Analyst: Abby Schneider
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
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.
[1] "November 2022 Ballot Proposal 22-2," Senate Fiscal Agency.
[2] "2022 Michigan Election results," Elections, Michigan Department of State. Retrieved on 4- 11-23.
SAS\S2324\s570sa
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.