BOARD OF CANVASSERS                                                                                                                           S.B. 296, 297, & 298:

                                                                                                                                                                SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL

                                                                                                                                                                                                                IN COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 296 to 298 (as introduced 3-24-21)

Sponsor:   Senator Ed McBroom

Committee:   Elections

Date Completed:   5-19-21

CONTENT

Senate Bill 296 would amend the Michigan Election Law to do the following:

 --     Abolish each existing four-member board of county canvassers in a county with a population of 200,000 or more, beginning January 1, 2022.

 --     Establish a six-member board of county canvassers in a county with a population of 200,000 or more but less than 750,000.

 --     Establish and eight-member board of county canvassers for a county with a population of 750,000 or more.

 --     Prescribe political party representation thresholds for six-member and eight-member boards.

 --     Prescribe quorum requirements for six- and eight-member boards and specify the number of members from each party that would be required to concur for an action to take effect.

Senate Bill 297 would amend the Michigan Election Law to do the following:

 --     Require at least one member from each political party represented on a board of county canvassers to be present during the entire canvassing of returns.

 --     Require a board of county canvassers to approve the hiring of an assistant by the county clerk before the assistant could be hired.

Senate Bill 298 would amend the Michigan Election Law to do the following:

 --     Require a board of county canvassers to deliver its returns with a certificate of determination to the county clerk within 21, instead of 14, days following the date of an election.

 --     Require a county clerk, within 21 days instead of 14 days after the primary election, to transmit to the Secretary of State (SOS) a certified statement of the number of votes received by each individual for nomination as a candidate of any political party for the offices of United States Senator, Governor, or certain district offices.

 --     Require the SOS to call a meeting of the Board of State Canvassers no later than 22, instead of 20, days after the primary election for the purpose of canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the election.

 --     Require a board of county canvassers to conclude the canvass within 21, instead of 14, day after the election.

 --     Allow a board of county canvassers up to 21, instead of 14, days after the election to certify the election results.