Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

Legislative Analysis
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REIMBURSE LOCAL SPECIAL ELECTION COSTS
                                                                              http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
House Bill 4033 (H-1) as reported from committee                              Analysis available at
Sponsor: Rep. Veronica Paiz                                                   http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Committee: Elections
Complete to 3-31-23
SUMMARY:
       House Bill 4033 would add a new section to the Michigan Election Law that would require the
       state to reimburse local units of government for the cost of conducting a special election to fill
       a vacancy for a state legislative office if the election is called by the governor and is held on a
       date other than a regular election date. The bill includes language of legislative intent that
       funding for the reimbursement would be appropriated from the general fund.
       To qualify for reimbursement, a county, city, or township would have to submit its account of
       the costs of the special election to the Department of Treasury within 90 days after the election.
       The Department of Treasury and Secretary of State would be responsible for determining the
       costs that would be eligible for reimbursement, which could not include the salaries of
       permanent local officials or the cost of reusable election supplies and equipment.
        If the state disputes an account, it would have to send a notice listing the reasons for the
        disapproval to the appropriate county, city, or township. The local unit could then request that
        the state review the disapproved costs. If an account is not disputed, the state would have to
        reimburse the county, city, or township within 90 days of receiving it.
        Proposed MCL 168.634b
FISCAL IMPACT:
        House Bill 4033 would require additional reimbursements to be made to local units of
        government each time a primary or general special election is held on a date when no other
        election is held. The costs would not be covered by annual appropriations to the Department
        of State and would likely require additional appropriations. Adjusting past costs for inflation,
        the average cost of a special election per city or township jurisdiction is estimated at
        approximately $6,000 per election, and the average cost per county is estimated at
        approximately $43,600. Special elections requiring a primary and general election on dates
        other than a regular election date would double the cost, to an average of $12,000 per
        jurisdiction and $87,200 per county.
        Prior years’ costs do not reflect the costs of elections following approval of Ballot Proposal 2
        of 2022, which increased costs to both the state and local clerks by requiring early election
        voting sites, among other election administration requirements. County, city, and township
        clerks anticipate substantially higher election administration costs related to Proposal 2
        requirements, but are still in the process of estimating those costs.
House Fiscal Agency                                                                            Page 1 of 2
       In 2022, four special elections were held in March when no other election was scheduled, with
       each race covering an average of four jurisdictions and one county. Under 2022 PA 166,
       $600,000 was appropriated for FY 2021-22 from general fund revenue to the Department of
       State. Final reimbursements totaled $435,500. The average cost per race was $87,100 including
       cities, townships and counties. The average cost per jurisdiction was $22,100. All four of these
       races were held in larger urban communities. Costs would be significantly lower in smaller and
       rural election districts.
       Since 2013, 15 primary and general special elections have been held in March and May.
       Regular election dates are often scheduled in August and November. However, March and May
       are more likely not to have elections scheduled, which would require state reimbursements
       under the bill.
POSITIONS:
       The following entities indicated support for the bill:
          • Department of State (3-7-23)
          • Lansing City Clerk (3-7-23)
          • Michigan Association of Counties (2-21-23)
          • Michigan Association of County Clerks (2-21-23)
          • Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks (2-21-23)
          • Michigan Municipal League (2-21-23)
          • Michigan Townships Association (2-21-23)
          • Ottawa County (2-21-23)
          • Promote the Vote (2-21-23)
          • Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) (2-21-23)
                                                          Legislative Analyst: Holly Kuhn
                                                               Fiscal Analyst: Michael Cnossen
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
House Fiscal Agency                                                    HB 4033 as reported   Page 2 of 2
Statutes affected: 
Substitute (H-1): 168.1, 168.992
House Introduced Bill: 168.1, 168.992
As Passed by the House: 168.1, 168.992