The bill amends the Michigan election law by updating the requirements for candidates seeking to appear on the official ballot for school board member positions. It specifies that candidates must file a nominating petition and an affidavit with the school district filing official by 4 p.m. on the fifteenth Tuesday before the election. The number of signatures required on the petition varies based on the population of the school district, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 20 for districts with populations under 10,000, and a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 100 for districts with populations of 10,000 or more. Additionally, candidates may opt to pay a nonrefundable filing fee of $100 instead of submitting a nominating petition.

The bill also introduces changes to the ballot order for elections, ensuring that the office of local school district board member is included on the ballot in the same manner as other offices. It clarifies that nonpartisan offices must be listed separately on the ballot without party designations. Furthermore, the bill establishes penalties for individuals who violate nominating petition rules, including misdemeanors for signing petitions incorrectly and felonies for signing with multiple names. Overall, the amendments aim to streamline the election process for school board candidates and enhance the integrity of the nominating petition process.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 168.303