Bill Text: MI SB0205 | 2015-2016 | 98th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Elections; candidates; recognized diminutive for a candidate's given name, middle name, or surname; allow to be included on a ballot. Amends sec. 560b of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.560b).
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-12 - Referred To Committee On Elections And Government Reform [SB0205 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2015-SB0205-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL No. 205
March 12, 2015, Introduced by Senators HERTEL and YOUNG and referred to the Committee on Elections and Government Reform.
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled
"Michigan election law,"
by amending section 560b (MCL 168.560b), as amended by 2012 PA 128.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 560b. (1) A candidate required to indicate a name change
on the affidavit of identity under section 558 shall be listed on
the ballot with his or her current name and former name as
prescribed by the secretary of state.
(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), both a candidate's
given name and surname that he or she was given at birth, and only
those names, shall appear on the ballot, except under 1 of the
following circumstances:
(a) The name in question, whether a given name, a surname, or
otherwise, is a name that was formally changed.
(b) The candidate is subject to subsection (1).
(c) The name in question, whether a given name, a surname, or
otherwise, is 1 of the following:
(i) A name that was changed in a certificate of naturalization
issued by a federal district court at the time the individual
became a naturalized citizen at least 10 years before filing as a
candidate.
(ii) A name that was changed because of marriage.
(iii) A name that was changed because of divorce, but only if to
a legal name by which the individual was previously known.
(3) A candidate may specify that both his or her given name
and middle name, or only a middle name, shall appear on the ballot.
A candidate may specify that either an initial or a recognized
diminutive
for the candidate's given or name,
middle name, or
surname,
or for both, each, shall
appear on the ballot. In
addition, a candidate may specify that a common law name used in
accordance with Michigan department of state guidelines for use of
a common law name on a driver license or state personal
identification card shall appear on that ballot.
(4) A candidate is prohibited from specifying that a nickname
that is not a recognized diminutive of the candidate's common law
name,
given name, or middle name,
or surname appear on the ballot.
A married individual is prohibited from specifying that his or her
spouse's given name, or an alternative for that given name
otherwise permitted under subsection (3), appear on the ballot.
(5) A ballot that would violate this section shall not be
produced, printed, or distributed.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days
after the date it is enacted into law.
