The bill amends the Michigan election law by updating the roles and responsibilities of the Secretary of State and the Director of Elections. It establishes that the Secretary of State is the chief election officer of Michigan, with supervisory control over local election officials, but introduces a provision that if the incumbent Secretary of State runs for another elected office, the Deputy Secretary of State will assume the role of chief election officer for that election. The incumbent Secretary of State will be prohibited from supervising or administering the election in which they are a candidate, although they retain other powers not related to election supervision.

Additionally, the bill outlines various duties of the Secretary of State, including issuing instructions for elections, advising local officials, and preparing ballots for proposed amendments to the state constitution. It also emphasizes the need for uniform standards for petition signatures and establishes a comprehensive training curriculum for election officials. The Director of Elections, appointed by the Secretary of State, is vested with powers to oversee election laws and is responsible for preparing impartial statements for ballot questions. The bill aims to enhance the integrity and administration of elections in Michigan.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 168.21