BALLOT PROPOSAL TEXT; INCLUSION S.B. 307:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 307 (as introduced 3-24-21)
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to require, if a ballot proposal appeared on a ballot or absentee ballot provided to an elector, the full text of the ballot proposal to be provided to the elector.
The Law prescribes requirements for the material and information that must be included on or with a ballot, for example, secrecy sleeves and instructions. Under the bill, if a ballot proposal appeared on a ballot provided to an elector, the full text of the ballot proposal would have to be provided to the elector.
Under Section 764, specified ballot-marking instructions, depending on the type of election, must be included with each absent voter ballot furnished to an elector. Also, under Section 764a, the instructions included in that section for the absent voting procedure must be included with each ballot or set of ballots furnished to a voter. Under the bill, in addition to instructions under Sections 764 and 764a, if a ballot proposal appeared on an absentee ballot provided to an absentee voter, the full text of that proposal would have to be included with that absentee ballot.
Proposed MCL 168.736h & 168.763a Legislative Analyst: Dana Adams
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill could have an indeterminate fiscal impact on local governments. Under the bill, printing costs could be increased because of the increased length of ballots that could result. The cost is indeterminate and would depend on the length of a ballot and the printing costs. Costs also would vary by locality depending on the issues appearing on that locality's ballot.
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.