Bill Text: MI HB6444 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Elections: candidates; candidate filing fee in lieu of nominating petitions for the office of state senator or state representative; make nonrefundable. Amends sec. 163 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.163).
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-11-18 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 11/18/2020 [HB6444 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-HB6444-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 6444
November 12, 2020, Introduced by Rep. Sabo and
referred to the Committee on Elections and Ethics.
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled
"Michigan election law,"
by amending section 163 (MCL 168.163), as amended by 2012 PA 276.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 163. (1) To
obtain the printing of the name of a
person an individual as
a candidate for nomination by a political party for the office of state senator
or representative under a particular party heading upon the official primary
ballots in the various election precincts of a district, there shall must
be filed nominating petitions signed by a number of qualified and
registered electors residing in the district as determined under section 544f.
If the district comprises more than 1 county, the nominating petitions shall must
be filed with the secretary of state. If the district comprises 1
county or less, the nominating petitions shall
must be filed with the county
clerk of that county. Nominating petitions shall
must be in the form prescribed in
section 544c. Until December 31, 2013, the secretary of state
and the various county clerks shall receive nominating petitions for filing in
accordance with this act up to 4 p.m. of the twelfth Tuesday before the August
primary. Beginning January 1, 2014, the The
secretary of state and the various county clerks shall receive
nominating petitions for filing in accordance with this act up to 4 p.m. of the
fifteenth Tuesday before the August primary.
(2) In lieu of filing a nominating petition, a nonrefundable filing fee of $100.00 may be paid to the county clerk or, for a candidate in a district comprising more than 1 county, to the secretary of state. Payment of the fee and certification of the name of the candidate paying the fee shall be are governed by the same provisions as in the case of nominating petitions. The fee shall must be deposited in the general fund of the candidate's county and shall be refunded to candidates who are nominated and to an equal number of candidates who receive the next highest number of votes in the primary election. If 2 or more candidates tie in having the lowest number of votes allowing a refund, the sum of $100.00 shall be divided among them. A refund of a deposit shall not be made to a candidate who withdraws as a candidate.of residence and must be used only for the purchase and maintenance of voting equipment.
