Michigan-2017-SB0809-Chaptered

Act No. 120

Public Acts of 2018

Approved by the Governor

May 2, 2018

Filed with the Secretary of State

May 3, 2018

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 31, 2018

STATE OF MICHIGAN

99TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2018

Introduced by Senator Robertson

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 809

AN ACT to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled “An act to reorganize, consolidate, and add to the election laws; to provide for election officials and prescribe their powers and duties; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state departments, state agencies, and state and local officials and employees; to provide for the nomination and election of candidates for public office; to provide for the resignation, removal, and recall of certain public officers; to provide for the filling of vacancies in public office; to provide for and regulate primaries and elections; to provide for the purity of elections; to guard against the abuse of the elective franchise; to define violations of this act; to provide appropriations; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; and to repeal certain acts and all other acts inconsistent with this act,” by amending sections 37, 51, 71, 91, 131, 161, 191, 254, 281, 302, 303, 342, 381, 383, 391, 409, 409b, 411, 413, 413a, 431, 433, 433a, 467, 467a, 467b, 467c, 624, 624a, 631, 635, 642c, 644e, 654a, 657, 667, 668a, 669, 670, 673a, 674, 677, 679, 679a, 682, 683, 690, 694, 719, 741, 743, 762, 764b, 764c, 765, 766, and 957 (MCL 168.37, 168.51, 168.71, 168.91, 168.131, 168.161, 168.191, 168.254, 168.281, 168.302, 168.303, 168.342, 168.381, 168.383, 168.391, 168.409, 168.409b, 168.411, 168.413, 168.413a, 168.431, 168.433, 168.433a, 168.467, 168.467a, 168.467b, 168.467c, 168.624, 168.624a, 168.631, 168.635, 168.642c, 168.644e, 168.654a, 168.657, 168.667, 168.668a, 168.669, 168.670, 168.673a, 168.674, 168.677, 168.679, 168.679a, 168.682, 168.683, 168.690, 168.694, 168.719, 168.741, 168.743, 168.762, 168.764b, 168.764c, 168.765, 168.766, and 168.957), section 37 as added by 2002 PA 91, sections 51, 91, 131, and 383 as amended by 1982 PA 505, sections 71, 161, 191, 281, 342, 391, 409, 411, 431, and 467 as amended by 1999 PA 218, sections 254, 303, 409b, 413, 413a, 433, 433a, 467b, 467c, 624, and 644e as amended by 2012 PA 276, section 302 as amended and section 642c as added by 2011 PA 233, section 381 as amended by 2012 PA 523, section 467a as amended by 1981 PA 4, section 624a as amended by 1988 PA 116, sections 635 and 690 as amended by 2003 PA 302, section 654a as added by 1994 PA 401, section 668a as added by 2004 PA 96, section 669 as amended by 2000 PA 207, sections 673a and 679 as amended by 1996 PA 583, sections 674, 764b, and 765 as amended by 1996 PA 207, section 677 as amended by 2012 PA 157, section 679a as amended by 2012 PA 271, section 719 as amended by 2017 PA 113, section 764c as added by 2012 PA 270, and section 766 as amended by 2005 PA 71; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 37. (1) The secretary of state shall select a uniform voting system under the provisions of this section. The secretary of state shall convene an advisory committee on the selection of the uniform voting system, whose membership represents county, city, and township election officials and other relevant organizations. In addition, the speaker and minority leader of the house of representatives and the majority and minority leaders of the senate may each appoint 1 advisory committee member.

(2) The secretary of state may conduct tests of a voting system in order to select the uniform voting system. The secretary of state shall not consider a voting system for selection as the uniform voting system unless the voting system is approved and certified as provided in section 795a. At the secretary of state’s request, the board of state canvassers shall perform the approval and certification review, as provided in section 795a, of a voting system that the secretary of state wants to consider for selection as the uniform voting system.

(3) When the uniform voting system is selected or at an earlier time that the secretary of state considers advisable, the secretary of state shall notify each county, city, and township about the selection or impending selection of the uniform voting system. A governmental unit that is notified under this subsection shall not purchase or enter into a contract to purchase a voting system other than the uniform voting system after receipt of the notice.

(4) After selection of the uniform voting system, the secretary of state shall establish a schedule for acquisition and implementation of the uniform voting system throughout this state. The secretary of state may devise a schedule that institutes the uniform voting system over several election cycles. The secretary of state shall widely publicize the schedule and changes to the schedule. If, however, a jurisdiction has acquired a new voting system within 8 years before the jurisdiction receives notice from the secretary of state under subsection (3), that jurisdiction is not required to acquire and use the uniform voting system until the expiration of 10 years after the date of the original purchase of the equipment.

(5) If, after selection of the uniform voting system, the secretary of state determines that the uniform voting system no longer serves the welfare of the voters or has become out of date in regards to voting system technology, the secretary of state may repeat the process for selecting the uniform voting system authorized under this section.

(6) This section does not apply until money is appropriated for the purpose of selecting, acquiring, and implementing the uniform voting system. If federal money becomes available for the purposes described in this section, the secretary of state shall, and the legislature intends to, take the steps necessary to qualify for and appropriate that money for the purposes described in this section.

Sec. 51. A person is not eligible to the office of governor or lieutenant governor unless the person has attained the age of 30 years and has been a registered and qualified elector in this state for 4 years next preceding his or her election, as provided in section 22 of article V of the state constitution of 1963.

Sec. 71. A person is not eligible to the offices of secretary of state or attorney general if the person is not a registered and qualified elector of this state by the date the person is nominated for the office.

Sec. 91. A person shall not be a United States Senator unless the person has attained the age of 30 years and has been a citizen of the United States for 9 years, and is, when elected, an inhabitant of that state for which he or she shall be chosen as provided in section 3 of article I of the United States Constitution.

Sec. 131. A person shall not be a Representative in Congress unless the person has attained the age of 25 years and been a citizen of the United States for 7 years, and is, when elected, an inhabitant of that state in which he or she shall be chosen, as provided in section 2 of article I of the United States Constitution.

Sec. 161. A person is not eligible to the office of state senator or representative unless the person is a citizen of the United States and a registered and qualified elector of the district he or she represents by the filing deadline, as provided in section 7 of article IV of the state constitution of 1963.

Sec. 191. A person is not eligible to the office of county clerk, county treasurer, register of deeds, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, drain commissioner, surveyor, or coroner if the person is not a registered and qualified elector of the county in which election is sought by the filing deadline.

Sec. 254. (1) To obtain the printing of the name of a person as a candidate for nomination by a political party for the office of county road commissioner under a particular party heading upon the official primary ballots, there must be filed with the county clerk of the county nominating petitions signed by a number of qualified and registered electors residing within the county as determined under section 544f. Nominating petitions must be in the form prescribed in section 544c. The county clerk shall receive nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. of the fifteenth Tuesday before the August primary in which county road commissioners are to be elected.

(2) To obtain the printing of the name of a candidate of a political party under the particular party’s heading upon the primary election ballots in the various voting precincts of the county, there may be filed by each candidate, in lieu of filing nominating petitions, a filing fee of $100.00 to be paid to the county clerk. Payment of the fee and certification of the name of the candidate paying the fee are governed by the same provisions as in the case of nominating petitions. The fee must be deposited in the general fund of the county and must be returned to all candidates who are nominated and to an equal number of candidates who received 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 must be divided among them. The deposits of all other defeated candidates, as well as the deposits of candidates who withdraw or are disqualified, are forfeited and the candidates must be notified of the forfeitures. Deposits forfeited under this section must be paid into and credited to the general fund of the county.

Sec. 281. A person is not eligible to membership on the state board of education, the board of regents of the University of Michigan, the board of trustees of Michigan State University, or the board of governors of Wayne State University if the person is not a registered and qualified elector of this state on the date the person is nominated for the office.

Sec. 302. An individual is eligible for election as a school board member if the individual is a citizen of the United States and is a qualified and registered elector of the school district the individual seeks to represent by the filing deadline. At least 1 school board member for a school district must be elected at each of the school district’s regular elections held as provided in section 642c. Except as otherwise provided in this section or section 310 or 644g, a school board member’s term of office is prescribed by the applicable provision of section 11a, 617, 701, or 703 of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.11a, 380.617, 380.701, and 380.703, or section 34, 34a, 41, 54, or 83 of the community college act of 1966, 1966 PA 331, MCL 389.34, 389.34a, 389.41, 389.54, and 389.83. If a ballot question changing the number of school board members or changing the terms of office for school board members under section 11a of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.11a, is proposed and a school district needs a temporary variance from the terms of office provisions in this act and the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1 to 380.1852, to phase in or out school board members’ terms of office, the school board shall submit the proposed ballot question language and a proposed transition plan to the secretary of state at least 30 days before the school board submits the ballot question language to the school district election coordinator under section 312. The secretary of state shall approve or reject the proposed transition plan within 10 business days of receipt of the proposed transition plan. The secretary of state shall approve the proposed transition plan if the plan provides only temporary relief to the school district from the terms of office provisions in this act and the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1 to 380.1852, until such time that the terms of office for school board members can be made to comply with this act and the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1 to 380.1852. The school board shall not submit the proposed ballot question language to the school district election coordinator under section 312 until the proposed transition plan is approved by the secretary of state. A school board member’s term begins on January 1 immediately following the election.

Sec. 303. (1) Subject to subsection (4), for an individual’s name to appear on the official ballot as a candidate for school board member, the candidate shall file a nominating petition and the affidavit required by section 558 with the school district filing official not later than 4 p.m. on the fifteenth Tuesday before the election date. The nominating petition must be signed by the following number of electors of the school district:

(a) If the population of the school district is less than 10,000 according to the most recent federal census, a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 20.

(b) If the population of the school district is 10,000 or more according to the most recent federal census, a minimum of 40 and a maximum of 100.

(2) The nominating petition must be substantially in the form prescribed in section 544c, except that the petition must be nonpartisan and must include the following opening paragraph:

We, the undersigned, registered and qualified voters of_________________________________________ and residents

of the______________________________________________ , the county of _________________________________________ ,

(legal name of school district) (city or township)

state of Michigan, nominate___________________________________________________________________________________

(name of candidate)

_________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ,

(street address) (city or township)

a registered and qualified elector of the district as a member of the board of education of the school district for a term of

__________ years, expiring______ , to be voted for at the election to be held on the_________ day of__________ ,____.

(month) (year)

(3) A school elector shall not sign petitions for more candidates than are to be elected.

(4) Instead of filing nominating petitions, a candidate for school board member may pay a nonrefundable filing fee of $100.00 to the school district filing official. If this fee is paid by the due date for a nominating petition, the payment has the same effect under this section as the filing of a nominating petition.

(5) A nominating petition filed under this chapter is subject to the examination and investigation process prescribed in section 552 as to its sufficiency and the validity and genuineness of the signatures on the nominating petition, and to the other procedures prescribed in that section relevant to a petition filed under this chapter.

(6) After a nominating petition is filed or filing fee is paid for a candidate for school board member, the candidate is not permitted to withdraw unless a written withdrawal notice, signed by the candidate, is filed with the school district filing official not later than 4 p.m. of the third day after the last day for filing the nominating petition. If the school district filing official is not a county clerk, the school district filing official shall notify the county clerk of the candidates’ names and addresses not later than 3 days after the last day for filing a withdrawal notice.

Sec. 342. A person is not eligible to a township office unless the person is a registered and qualified elector of the township in which election is sought by the filing deadline. A person is not eligible for membership on the board of review unless, in addition to the qualifications for eligibility to a township office, the person is a landowner and taxpayer in the township.

Sec. 381. (1) Except as provided in this section and sections 383, 641, 642, 642a, and 644g, the qualifications, nomination, election, appointment, term of office, and removal from office of a village officer must be as determined by the charter provisions governing the village.

(2) If the membership of the village council of a village governed by the general law village act, 1895 PA 3, MCL 61.1 to 74.25, is reduced to less than a quorum of 4 and a special election for the purpose of filling all vacancies in the office of trustee is called under section 13 of chapter II of the general law village act, 1895 PA 3, MCL 62.13, temporary appointments of trustees must be made as provided in this subsection. The board of county election commissioners of the county in which the largest portion of the population of the village is situated shall make temporary appointment of the number of trustees required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the village council. A trustee appointed under this subsection shall hold the office only until the trustee’s successor is elected and qualified. A trustee who is temporarily appointed under this subsection shall not vote on the appointment of himself or herself to an elective or appointive village office.

(3) Notwithstanding another provision of law or charter to the contrary, an appointment to an elective or appointive village office made by a quorum constituted by temporary appointments under this subsection expires upon the election and qualification of trustees under the special election called to fill the vacancies in the office of trustee.

(4) Filing for a village office must be with the township clerk if the township is conducting the election or if the village is located in more than 1 township with the township in which the largest number of the registered electors of the village reside. Nominating petitions for village offices must be filed with the appropriate township clerk by 4 p.m. on the fifteenth Tuesday before the general November election. After a nominating petition is filed for a candidate for a village office, the candidate is not permitted to withdraw unless a written withdrawal notice, signed by the candidate, is filed with the appropriate township clerk not later than 4 p.m. of the third day after the last day for filing the nominating petition.

Sec. 383. The governor shall remove all village officers chosen by the electors of a village if the governor is satisfied from sufficient evidence submitted to the governor that the officer is guilty of official misconduct, wilful neglect of duty, extortion, or habitual drunkenness, or has been convicted of being drunk, or if it appears by a certified copy of the judgment of a court of record of this state that a village officer, after the officer’s election or appointment, has been convicted of a felony. The governor shall not take action upon any charges made to the governor against a village officer until the charges have been exhibited to the governor in writing, verified by the affidavit of the party making them, that the party believes the charges to be true. A village officer must not be removed for misconduct or neglect until charges of misconduct or neglect have been exhibited to the governor as provided in this section and a copy of the charges served on the officer and an opportunity given the officer of being heard in his or her defense. The service of the charges upon the person or persons complained against must be made by personal service to the officer of a copy of the charges, together with all affidavits or exhibits which may be attached to the original petition, if the officer can be found, and if not, by leaving a copy of the charges at the last known place of residence of the officer with a person of suitable age, if a person of suitable age can be found, and if not, by posting the copy of the charges in a conspicuous place at the officer’s last known place of residence. An officer who has been removed from office under this section is not eligible for election or appointment to any office for a period of 3 years from the date of the removal from office.

Sec. 391. A person is not eligible to the office of justice of the supreme court unless the person is a registered and qualified elector of this state by the filing deadline or the date the person files the affidavit of candidacy, is licensed to practice law in this state, and at the time of election or appointment is less than 70 years of age.

Sec. 409. A person is not eligible for the office of judge of the court of appeals unless the person is a registered and qualified elector of the appellate court district in which election is sought by the filing deadline or the date the person files the affidavit of candidacy, is licensed to practice law in this state, and, at the time of election or appointment, is less than 70 years of age.

Sec. 409b. (1) To obtain the printing of the name of a qualified person other than an incumbent judge of the court of appeals as a candidate for nomination for the office of judge of the court of appeals upon the official nonpartisan primary ballots, there must be filed with the secretary of state nominating petitions containing the signatures, addresses, and dates of signing of a number of qualified and registered electors residing in the appellate court district as determined under section 544f. The provisions of sections 544a and 544b apply. The secretary of state shall receive nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. on the fifteenth Tuesday before the primary.

(2) Nominating petitions filed under this section are valid only if they clearly indicate for which of the following offices the candidate is filing, consistent with subsection (8):

(a) An unspecified existing judgeship for which the incumbent judge is seeking election.

(b) An unspecified existing judgeship for which the incumbent judge is not seeking election.

(3) Nominating petitions specifying a new or existing court of appeals judgeship may not be used to qualify a candidate for another judicial office of the same court in the same judicial district. A person who files nominating petitions for election to more than 1 court of appeals judgeship has not more than 3 days following the close of filing to withdraw from all but 1 filing.

(4) In a primary and general election for 2 or more judgeships where more than 1 of the categories in subsection (2) could be selected, a candidate shall apply to the bureau of elections for a written statement of office designation to correspond to the judgeship sought by the candidate. The office designation provided by the secretary of state must be included in the heading of all nominating petitions. Nominating petitions containing an improper office designation are invalid.

(5) The secretary of state shall issue an office designation of incumbent position for any judgeship for which the incumbent judge is eligible to seek reelection. If an incumbent judge does not file an affidavit of candidacy by the deadline, the secretary of state shall notify all candidates for that office that a nonincumbent position exists. All nominating petitions circulated for the nonincumbent position subsequent to the deadline must bear an office designation of nonincumbent position. All signatures collected before the affidavit of candidacy filing deadline may be filed with the nonincumbent nominating petitions.

(6) An incumbent judge of the court of appeals may become a candidate in the primary election for the office of which he or she is the incumbent by filing with the secretary of state an affidavit of candidacy not less than 134 days before the date of the primary election. However, if an incumbent judge of the court of appeals was appointed to fill a vacancy and the judge entered upon the duties of the office less than 137 days before the date of the primary election but before the fifteenth Tuesday before the primary election, the incumbent judge may file the affidavit of candidacy not more than 3 days after entering upon the duties of office. The affidavit of candidacy must contain statements that the affiant is an incumbent judge of the court of appeals, is domiciled within the district, will not attain the age of 70 by the date of election, and is a candidate for election to the office of judge of the court of appeals.

(7) In the primary and general November election for 2 or more judgeships of the court of appeals in a judicial district, each of the following categories of candidates must be listed separately on the ballot, consistent with subsection (8):

(a) The names of candidates for the judgeship or judgeships for which the incumbent is seeking election.

(b) The names of candidates for the judgeship or judgeships for which the incumbent is not seeking election.

(8) If the death or disqualification of an incumbent judge triggers the application of section 409d(2), then for the purposes of subsections (2) and (7), that judgeship must be regarded as a judgeship for which the incumbent judge is not seeking election. The application of this subsection includes, but is not limited to, circumstances in which the governor appoints an individual to fill the vacancy and that individual seeks to qualify as a nominee under section 409d(2).

Sec. 411. A person is not eligible to the office of judge of the circuit court unless the person is a registered and qualified elector of the judicial circuit in which election is sought by the filing deadline or the date the person files the affidavit of candidacy, as provided in section 11 of article VI of the state constitution of 1963, is licensed to practice law in this state, and, at the time of election, is less than 70 years of age.

Sec. 413. (1) To obtain the printing of the name of a person as a candidate for nomination for the office of judge of the circuit court upon the official nonpartisan primary ballots, there must be filed with the secretary of state nominating petitions containing the signatures, addresses, and dates of signing of a number of qualified and registered electors residing in the judicial circuit as determined under section 544f or by the filing of an affidavit according to section 413a. The secretary of state shall receive the nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. of the fifteenth Tuesday before the primary. The provisions of sections 544a and 544b apply.

(2) If a candidate for nomination for the office of judge of the circuit court receives incorrect or inaccurate written information from the secretary of state or the bureau of elections concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f and that incorrect or inaccurate written information is published or distributed by the secretary of state or the bureau of elections, the candidate may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for equitable relief. A court may grant equitable relief to a candidate under this subsection if all of the following occur:

(a) The candidate brings the action for equitable relief within 6 days after the candidate is notified by the secretary of state or the bureau of elections that the candidate’s nominating petition contains insufficient signatures.

(b) The candidate files an affidavit certifying that he or she contacted and received from the secretary of state or the bureau of elections incorrect or inaccurate written information concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f.

(c) The secretary of state or the bureau of elections published or distributed the incorrect or inaccurate written information concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f before the filing deadline under subsection (1).

(d) The secretary of state or bureau of elections did not inform the candidate at least 14 days before the filing deadline under subsection (1) that incorrect or inaccurate written information concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f had been published or distributed.

(3) If a court grants equitable relief to a candidate under subsection (2), the candidate must be given the opportunity to obtain additional nominating petition signatures to meet the requirements under section 544f. The additional nominating petition signatures obtained by a candidate must be filed with the secretary of state no later than 4 p.m. on the fifth business day after the date that the court order granting equitable relief is filed.

(4) The nominating petition signatures filed under this section are subject to challenge as provided in section 552.

Sec. 413a. (1) Any incumbent circuit court judge may become a candidate in the primary election for the office of which he or she is an incumbent by filing with the secretary of state an affidavit of candidacy not less than 134 days before the date of the primary election. However, if an incumbent judge of the circuit court was appointed to fill a vacancy and the judge entered upon the duties of office less than 137 days before the date of the primary election but before the fifteenth Tuesday before the primary election, the incumbent judge may file the affidavit of candidacy not more than 3 days after entering upon the duties of office.

(2) The affidavit of candidacy must contain statements that the affiant is an incumbent circuit court judge for the circuit in which election is sought, that he or she is domiciled within the circuit, and that he or she will not attain the age of 70 by the date of election, and must contain a declaration that he or she is a candidate for election to the office of circuit court judge.

Sec. 431. A person is not eligible to the office of judge of probate unless the person is a registered and qualified elector of the county in which election is sought by the filing deadline or the date the person files the affidavit of candidacy, as provided in section 16 of article VI of the state constitution of 1963, is licensed to practice law in this state except as provided in section 7 of the schedule and temporary provisions of the state constitution of 1963, and, at the time of election, is less than 70 years of age.

Sec. 433. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, to obtain the printing of the name of a person as a candidate for nomination for the office of judge of probate upon the official nonpartisan primary ballots, there must be filed with the county clerk of each county nominating petitions containing the signatures, addresses, and dates of signing of a number of qualified and registered electors residing in the county as determined under section 544f or by the filing of an affidavit according to section 433a. In the case of a probate court district, to obtain the printing of the name of a person as a candidate for nomination for the office of judge of probate upon the official nonpartisan primary ballots, there must be filed with the secretary of state nominating petitions containing the signatures, addresses, and dates of signing of a number of qualified and registered electors residing in the probate court district as determined under section 544f or by the filing of an affidavit according to section 433a. The county clerk or, in the case of a probate court district, the secretary of state shall receive nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. on the fifteenth Tuesday before the August primary. The provisions of sections 544a and 544b apply.

(2) Nominating petitions filed under this section are valid only if they clearly indicate for which of the following offices the candidate is filing, consistent with section 435a(2):

(a) An unspecified existing judgeship for which the incumbent judge is seeking election.

(b) An unspecified existing judgeship for which the incumbent judge is not seeking election.

(3) A person who files nominating petitions for election to more than 1 probate judgeship has not more than 3 days following the close of filing to withdraw from all but 1 filing.

(5) The secretary of state shall issue an office designation of incumbent position for any judgeship for which the incumbent judge is eligible to seek reelection. If an incumbent judge does not file an affidavit of candidacy by the deadline, the secretary of state shall notify all candidates for that office that a nonincumbent position exists. All nominating petitions circulated for the nonincumbent position after the deadline must bear an office designation of nonincumbent position. All signatures collected before the affidavit of candidacy filing deadline may be filed with the nonincumbent nominating petitions.

(6) If a candidate for nomination for the office of judge of probate receives incorrect or inaccurate written information from the county clerk or, in the case of a probate court district, the secretary of state concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f and that incorrect or inaccurate written information is published or distributed by the county clerk or, in the case of a probate court district, the secretary of state, the candidate may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for equitable relief. A court may grant equitable relief to a candidate under this subsection if all of the following occur:

(a) The candidate brings the action for equitable relief within 6 days after the candidate is notified by the county clerk or, in the case of a probate court district, the secretary of state that the candidate’s nominating petition contains insufficient signatures.

(b) The candidate files an affidavit certifying that he or she contacted and received from the county clerk or, in the case of a probate court district, the secretary of state incorrect or inaccurate written information concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f.

(c) The county clerk or, in the case of a probate court district, the secretary of state published or distributed the incorrect or inaccurate written information concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f before the filing deadline under subsection (1).

(d) The county clerk or, in the case of a probate court district, the secretary of state did not inform the candidate at least 14 days before the filing deadline under subsection (1) that incorrect or inaccurate written information concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f had been published or distributed.

(7) If a court grants equitable relief to a candidate under subsection (6), the candidate must be given the opportunity to obtain additional nominating petition signatures to meet the requirements under section 544f. The additional nominating petition signatures obtained by a candidate must be filed with the county clerk or, in the case of a probate court district, the secretary of state no later than 4 p.m. on the fifth business day after the date that the court order granting equitable relief is filed.

(8) The nominating petition signatures filed under this section are subject to challenge as provided in section 552.

Sec. 433a. (1) Any incumbent probate court judge may become a candidate in the primary election for the office of which he or she is an incumbent by filing with the county clerk, or in case of a probate district with the secretary of state, an affidavit of candidacy not less than 134 days before the date of the primary election. However, if an incumbent judge of probate was appointed to fill a vacancy and the judge entered upon the duties of office less than 137 days before the date of the primary election but before the fifteenth Tuesday before the primary election, the incumbent judge may file the affidavit of candidacy not more than 3 days after entering upon the duties of office.

(2) The affidavit of candidacy must contain statements that the affiant is an incumbent probate court judge of the county or district of which election is sought, that he or she is domiciled within the county or district, and that he or she will not attain the age of 70 years by the date of election, and must contain a declaration that he or she is a candidate for election to the office of probate court judge.

Sec. 467. A person is not eligible for the office of judge of the district court unless the person is a registered and qualified elector of the judicial district and election division in which election is sought by the filing deadline or the date the person files the affidavit of candidacy, is licensed to practice law in this state, and, at the time of election or appointment, is less than 70 years of age.

Sec. 467a. A general nonpartisan primary election must be held in every district and election division of this state on the Tuesday after the first Monday in August before the general election at which judges of the district court are elected, at which time the qualified and registered electors may vote for nonpartisan candidates for judge of the district court. If upon the expiration of the time for filing petitions of candidacy for the primary election of the judge of the district court in any district or election division, it appears that there are not to exceed twice the number of candidates as there are persons to be elected, the secretary of state shall certify to the county board of election commissioners the name of those candidates for district court judge whose petitions or affidavits of candidacy have been properly filed and those candidates are the nominees for the judge of the district court and must be so certified. As to that office, there must not be a primary election and this office must be omitted from the judicial primary ballot.

Sec. 467b. (1) To obtain the printing of the name of a person as a candidate for nomination for the office of judge of the district court upon the official nonpartisan primary ballots, there must be filed with the secretary of state nominating petitions containing the signatures, addresses, and dates of signing of a number of qualified and registered electors residing in the judicial district or division as determined under section 544f. An incumbent district court judge may also become a candidate by the filing of an affidavit in lieu of petitions according to section 467c. The secretary of state shall receive nominating petitions up to 4 p.m. on the fifteenth Tuesday before the primary. The provisions of sections 544a and 544b apply.

(2) Nominating petitions filed under this section are valid only if they clearly indicate for which of the following offices the candidate is filing, consistent with section 467c(4):

(a) An unspecified existing judgeship for which the incumbent judge is seeking election.

(b) An unspecified existing judgeship for which the incumbent judge is not seeking election.

(3) A person who files nominating petitions for election to more than 1 district judgeship has not more than 3 days following the close of filing to withdraw from all but 1 filing.

(5) The secretary of state shall issue an office designation of incumbent position for any judgeship for which the incumbent judge is eligible to seek reelection. If an incumbent judge does not file an affidavit of candidacy by the deadline, the secretary of state shall notify all candidates for that office that a nonincumbent position exists. All nominating petitions circulated for the nonincumbent position after the deadline must bear an office designation of nonincumbent position. All signatures collected before the affidavit of candidacy filing deadline may be filed with the nonincumbent nominating petitions.

(6) If a candidate for nomination for the office of judge of the district court receives incorrect or inaccurate written information from the secretary of state or the bureau of elections concerning the number of nominating petition signatures required under section 544f and that incorrect or inaccurate written information is published or distributed by the secretary of state or the bureau of elections, the candidate may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for equitable relief. A court may grant equitable relief to a candidate under this subsection if all of the following occur:

(7) If a court grants equitable relief to a candidate under subsection (6), the candidate must be given the opportunity to obtain additional nominating petition signatures to meet the requirements under section 544f. The additional nominating petition signatures obtained by a candidate must be filed with the secretary of state no later than 4 p.m. on the fifth business day after the date that the court order granting equitable relief is filed.

(8) The nominating petition signatures filed under this section are subject to challenge as provided in section 552.

Sec. 467c. (1) An incumbent district court judge may become a candidate in the primary election for the office of which he or she is an incumbent by filing with the secretary of state an affidavit of candidacy in lieu of nominating petitions not less than 134 days before the date of the primary election. However, if an incumbent district court judge was appointed to fill a vacancy and the judge entered upon the duties of the office less than 137 days before the date of the primary election but before the fifteenth Tuesday before the primary election, the incumbent judge may file the affidavit of candidacy not more than 3 days after entering upon the duties of office. The affidavit of candidacy must contain statements that the affiant is an incumbent district court judge for the district or election division in which election is sought, that he or she is domiciled within the district or election division, and that he or she will not attain the age of 70 by the date of election, and a declaration that the affiant is a candidate for election to the office of district court judge.

(2) There must be printed upon the ballot under the name of each incumbent district judge who is a candidate for nomination or election to the same office the designation of that office.

(3) In the primary and general election for 2 or more judgeships of the district court, each of the following categories of candidates must be listed separately on the ballot, consistent with subsection (4):

(a) The names of candidates for the judgeship or judgeships for which the incumbent is seeking election.

(b) The names of candidates for an existing judgeship or judgeships for which the incumbent is not seeking election.

(4) If the death or disqualification of an incumbent judge triggers the application of section 467e(2), then for the purposes of subsection (3) and section 467b(2), that judgeship must be regarded as a judgeship for which the incumbent judge is not seeking election. The application of this subsection includes, but is not limited to, circumstances in which the governor appoints an individual to fill the vacancy and that individual seeks to qualify as a nominee under section 467e(2).

Sec. 624. (1) A person holding a public office in this state or a municipal subdivision of this state may become a candidate for delegate to the county or district conventions.

(2) A candidate for delegate to the county or district conventions of a political party shall be a qualified and registered elector residing within, as well as having his or her actual bona fide residence within, the election precinct for which he or she desires to become a candidate on the filing deadline. A candidate must file an affidavit of identity as prescribed in section 558(1) with the county clerk of the county in which the candidate resides. A county clerk shall receive affidavits of identity under this section up to 4 p.m. on the thirteenth Tuesday before the time designated for holding a primary election in the county. All duly elected and certified delegates shall be seated at the county or district county conventions. A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(3) If a written complaint is made to the county clerk with respect to the registration or bona fide residence, or both, of a candidate, the county clerk shall check with the township or city clerk of the township or city in which the candidate is registered or residing, or both. The township or city clerk shall report back to the county clerk within 48 hours as to the registration or bona fide residence, or both, of the candidate. If the township or city clerk’s report shows that the candidate is not a registered elector or a bona fide resident of the election precinct of the township or city for which the petition shows the candidate is a resident, the county clerk shall remove the name of the candidate from the ballot. A complaint received by the county clerk after the ballots have been released for printing and before the primary election must not be acted upon.

Sec. 624a. (1) A precinct delegate may resign his or her office upon written notice to the chairperson of the county committee and the county clerk of the county or district in which the delegate resides.

(2) A person who has filed petitions for precinct delegate may withdraw his or her name from the ballot by filing a statement of withdrawal with the county clerk within 72 hours after 4 p.m. of the last day to file for the office of precinct delegate.

(3) A person elected to fill a delegate vacancy or elected as a precinct delegate is not qualified to participate in a convention if, at the time of the convention, that person does not reside in the precinct from which he or she was elected. A delegate is not disqualified if the delegate no longer resides in the precinct as a result of a division or rearrangement of the precinct under section 660 or 661.

(4) If a written complaint is made to the county clerk regarding a delegate’s qualification to hold the office, the county clerk shall check with the township or city clerk of the township or city in which the delegate indicated on the nominating petition as his or her place of residence. The township or city clerk shall report back to the county clerk within 48 hours as to the complaint made under this subsection. If the township or city clerk’s report shows that the delegate is not qualified to hold the office, the county clerk shall certify to the chairperson of the county committee of the political party the name of the delegate of that political party who is no longer qualified to hold the office of delegate under this subsection.

Sec. 631. If a special election is called to fill a vacancy in any office, the candidates for which are regularly nominated in accordance with the provisions of this act relating to primary nominations, a special primary for all political parties must be held in the county, district, or city in which the vacancy occurs on a day as may, subject to section 641(3), be fixed by the official or legislative body calling the special election, but not less than 45 days before the date of the special election. The official or legislative body calling a special primary shall, in the call for the special primary, fix the time within which candidates may file nominating petitions.

Sec. 635. A special election for the submission of a proposition must be held on a regular election date.

Sec. 642c. A school district shall hold its regular election for the office of school board member at the general November election.

Sec. 644e. Except as provided in section 642, an officer required to be elected at the odd year general election must be nominated at the odd year primary election. If a charter provides for nomination by caucus or by filing a petition or affidavit directly for the general election, the candidate filing deadline or certification deadline is 4 p.m. on the fifteenth Tuesday before the odd year general election. If a charter provides for the election at the primary of a candidate who receives more than 50% of the votes cast for that office, the candidate filing deadline or certification deadline is 4 p.m. on the fifteenth Tuesday before the primary.

Sec. 654a. (1) An election precinct under this act must be composed as nearly as practicable of compact and contiguous territory and must have clearly defined and clearly observable boundaries.

(2) As used in this section, “clearly observable boundaries” includes 1 or more of the following:

(a) A named road or street.

(b) A road or highway that is part of the federal, state primary, or state secondary road system.

(d) A natural or constructed permanent physical feature that is shown on an official county, city, or township map issued by the department of transportation or a United States Geological Survey topographical map.

(e) An apartment building, a dormitory, or other permanent multiple-unit housing structure.

(f) Any line or demarcation that meets the requirements of and is recognized by the United States Census Bureau.

Sec. 657. If a city, ward, or township is divided into 2 or more election precincts, the election commission, or other officials charged with the performance of that duty by the charter of any city may by resolution divide any precinct of the city, ward, or township into 2 or more precincts, attach a portion of any precinct to an adjoining precinct, or may rearrange the city, ward, or township into election precincts as the election commission or other officials charged with the performance of that duty by the charter of any city may consider necessary and convenient for conducting primaries or elections in the city, ward, or township in the same manner and under the same restrictions as provided in section 661.

Sec. 667. At any federal, state, district or county primary or election, the various boards of county election commissioners shall furnish, at the expense of their respective counties, all of the following:

(a) Suitable forms as prescribed by the secretary of state for use by the precinct election inspectors in making returns of any primary or election to the boards of county canvassers. The statement of returns form must also contain a certificate to be subscribed by each member of the precinct election board on a form prescribed by the secretary of state.

(b) Suitable write-in sheets to be used by the election inspectors in recording the names of all write-in candidates.

(c) Self-addressed substantial paper envelopes with gummed flaps to be used by the various boards of precinct election inspectors for sealing the statements of returns, the write-in sheets, poll lists, and a certificate of election inspectors.

Sec. 668a. (1) The secretary of state shall furnish to each county clerk at state expense for each precinct 2 voter information displays that contain in not less than 18-point type the following information:

(a) The hours that the polls will be open.

(b) Voting instructions.

(c) Information on an individual’s right to obtain a provisional ballot and instructions on how to vote a provisional ballot.

(d) Information on the identification requirements that apply to voters who register by mail.

(e) Instructions on how to contact the appropriate election official about alleged voting rights violations.

(f) Information on the federal and state laws that prohibit fraud and misrepresentation.

(g) Information on how to challenge another voter as unqualified to vote.

(h) Other information that the secretary of state considers necessary.

(2) Upon receipt of the voter information displays under subsection (1), each county clerk shall provide to each city or township clerk, as designated by the secretary of state, 2 voter information displays for each precinct in the county.

(3) The city or township clerk shall provide to each precinct 2 voter information displays and an instruction ballot for display at each precinct.

(4) Before the polls open on election day, the board of election inspectors in each precinct shall post in conspicuous places in the polling place the voter information displays and instruction ballot required under this section.

(5) If requested by an elector, the city or township clerk shall have available a means to provide the information contained in the voter information displays in an alternative format, as prescribed by the secretary of state.

Sec. 669. For a federal, state, district, or county primary or election, a city or township board of election commissioners shall provide, at the expense of the respective city or township, each of the following:

(a) For each election precinct, a ballot container approved under section 24j to be utilized in the precinct.

(b) For each polling place, a United States flag and any additional items needed to display the flag. The flag must measure not less than 3 feet wide and 5 feet long. The election inspectors shall ensure that the flag is displayed at or in each polling place during an election.

Sec. 670. For all local primaries and elections, the election commissioners of the various cities and townships shall furnish, at the expense of their respective cities and townships all ballots, forms, stationery, and supplies required for the proper conduct of primaries and elections. These supplies must conform generally with the supplies furnished for general primaries and elections.

Sec. 673a. Not later than May 15 of each year, the county chair of a major political party may submit to the city or township clerks in that county a list of individuals who are interested in serving as an election inspector in that county. The county chair may designate in the list the city or township in which each individual on the list wishes to serve.

Sec. 674. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary and subject to this section, the city and township board of election commissioners, at least 21 days but not more than 40 days before each election, but in no case less than 5 days before the date set for holding schools of instruction, shall appoint for each election precinct at least 3 election inspectors and as many more as in its opinion is required for the efficient, speedy, and proper conduct of the election. The board of election commissioners may appoint as election inspector an individual on the list submitted by a major political party under section 673a who is qualified to serve under section 677. An appointment of an election inspector under this section is void if a properly completed application for that election inspector is not on file in the clerk’s office as prescribed in section 677.

(2) The board of election commissioners shall designate 1 appointed election inspector as chairperson. The board of election commissioners shall appoint at least 1 election inspector from each major political party and shall appoint an equal number, as nearly as possible, of election inspectors in each election precinct from each major political party. The board of election commissioners may appoint election inspectors in an election precinct from minor political parties. Not later than 2 business days following the appointment of election inspectors under subsection (1) for elections in which a federal or state office appears, the board of election commissioners shall notify by certified mail, personal service, or electronic transmission capable of determining date of receipt the county chair of each major political party of the names and political party affiliations of appointed election inspectors and the precincts to which those inspectors were appointed. A board of election commissioners shall not appoint a person as an election inspector if that person declares a political party preference for 1 political party but is a known active advocate of another political party. As used in this section, “a known active advocate” means a person who meets 1 or more of the following:

(a) Is a delegate to the convention or an officer of that other party.

(b) Is affiliated with that party through an elected or appointed government position.

(c) Has made documented public statements specifically supporting by name the other political party or its candidates in the same calendar year as the election for which the appointment is being made. As used in this subdivision, “documented public statements” means statements reported by the news media or written statements with a clear and unambiguous attribution to the applicant.

(3) The county chair of a major political party may challenge the appointment of an election inspector based upon the qualifications of the election inspector, the legitimacy of the election inspector’s political party affiliation, or whether there is a properly completed declaration of political party affiliation in the application for that election inspector on file in the clerk’s office. The challenge must be in writing, specifically identify the reason for the challenge, and include any available documentation supporting the challenge. The county chair of the political party shall file a challenge under this subsection with the board of election commissioners not later than 4 business days following receipt of the board of election commissioners’ notice of appointed election inspectors under subsection (2).

(4) Upon receipt of a challenge under subsection (3), the board of election commissioners shall determine whether the appointee has the necessary qualifications by reviewing the application or any other official records, such as voter registration records, or whether the applicant has a properly completed certification of political party affiliation in the application. If the challenge alleges that the appointee is a known active advocate of a political party other than the one on the appointee’s application, the board of election commissioners immediately shall provide the appointee with a copy of the challenge by certified mail, personal service, or electronic transmission capable of determining date of receipt. The appointee may respond to the challenge within 2 business days after receiving a copy of the challenge. A response must be by affidavit addressing the specific reasons for the challenge. Failure to respond results in revocation of the appointment. Within 2 business days after receiving the challenge or a response from the appointee, whichever is later, the board of election commissioners shall make a final determination and notify the appointee and the county chair of the political party of the determination.

(5) If a vacancy occurs in the office of chairperson or in the office of election inspector before election day, the chairperson of the board of election commissioners shall designate some other properly qualified applicant or election inspector as chairperson or some other qualified applicant as election inspector, as applicable, subject to this section. If a vacancy occurs in the office of chairperson on election day, the remaining election inspectors shall designate 1 of the inspectors as chairperson.

Sec. 677. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4), a precinct election inspector must be a qualified and registered elector of this state, must have a good reputation, and must have sufficient education and clerical ability to perform the duties of the office. A person must not be appointed to a board of election inspectors unless the person has filed an application with a city or township clerk in that county where the individual wishes to serve as election inspector.

(2) The application must be in his or her own handwriting and must contain the applicant’s name, home address, ward and precinct registration if any, date of birth, political party affiliation, education, employment, and other experience qualifications. The application must provide a certification that the applicant is not a member or a known active advocate, as that term is defined in section 674, of a political party other than the one entered on the application. The form of the application under this section must be approved by the state director of elections. The clerk shall maintain a file of applications filed under this section and make the applications available for public inspection at the clerk’s office during normal business hours.

(3) A person must not be knowingly appointed or permitted to act as a precinct election inspector if the person or any member of his or her immediate family is a candidate for nomination or election to any office at the election or who has been convicted of a felony or election crime. A person must not be permitted to act as an election inspector if he or she has failed to attend a school of instruction or failed to take an examination as provided in section 683. This section does not prohibit the candidate for or delegate to a political party convention from acting as an election inspector in a precinct other than the precinct in which he or she resides. An election must not be invalidated merely because of the violation of the provisions of this section.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and subject to subsection (5), a person who is 16 or 17 years of age may be appointed to a board of election inspectors. Before a person may be appointed under this subsection, the first 3 members of the board required to be appointed under section 672 must meet the requirements of subsections (1) to (3). A person who is appointed under this subsection must meet the requirements of subsections (1) to (3) other than being a qualified and registered elector of this state. A person who is appointed under this subsection is not eligible to be designated as chairperson of the board under section 674.

(5) If a person seeking appointment to a board of election inspectors under subsection (4) is attending a K-12 school and if an election falls on a school day, the person shall provide to the clerk, along with the application filed under subsections (1) and (2), a written document from his or her school specifically acknowledging that person’s application for appointment to the board of election inspectors and specifically excusing that person from school on the date of service, if the appointment is made.

Sec. 679. (1) The legislative body of a city or township, by resolution, may provide that for an election in a precinct of the city or township, there shall be an additional board of election inspectors, known as the counting board. The counting board must consist of 3 or more election inspectors. Sections 673a and 674 apply to the appointment of election inspectors to counting boards under this section. The counting board shall count the ballots cast in the precinct at an election and make a statement of returns of that count. The provisions of this chapter relative to the appointment, qualifications, privileges, powers, duties, and oaths of office of election inspectors apply to the members of a counting board, to the extent that they apply to the counting of the votes cast at and the making of the statement of returns of an election.

(2) In a precinct for which a counting board has been provided, the duties of the election inspectors who have conducted the election during the day cease on the closing of the polls and, upon the closing of the polls, the counting board assumes charge and control of the place of voting, the ballot boxes, the ballots, and all other equipment of the polling place and shall proceed with the counting of votes. The counting board shall perform all duties required by this act to be performed after the closing of the polls at an election by the board of election inspectors in a precinct that does not have a counting board, as provided in this section.

(3) Section 662 applies to the designation and prescribing of the place or places in which the counting board performs its duties under this section.

Sec. 679a. (1) The election commission of a city or township shall, by resolution, provide that at an election at which the ballots are counted and certified at the precinct, 1 or more additional boards of election inspectors be appointed to serve as receiving boards. For a precinct having receiving boards, the board of election commissioners shall appoint a receiving board consisting of 2 or more election inspectors, with an equal number from each major political party, and shall appoint an equal number of election inspectors from each major political party.

(2) Not less than 2 election inspectors in a precinct, representing each of the major political parties, shall deliver to the receiving board for that precinct a sealed ballot container containing the voted ballots, and, in a separate sealed envelope, the poll book and statement of returns. The poll book and statement of returns may be enclosed in a single sealed envelope.

(3) The receiving board shall open the sealed envelope and review the poll book and statement of returns to determine both of the following:

(a) That the ballot container is properly sealed and the seal number is properly recorded in the poll book and the statement of returns. If the ballot container is not properly sealed or there is a discrepancy with the seal number recorded in the poll book or the statement of returns, the election inspectors who delivered the ballot container and the receiving board shall together take the necessary steps to correct the discrepancy. The election inspectors and the receiving board shall note the discrepancy and the corrective action in the remarks section of the poll book and all shall sign the notation.

(b) That the number of individuals voting recorded in the poll book equals the number of ballots issued to electors, as shown by the statement of returns. If the number of individuals voting as shown by the poll book does not equal the number of ballots counted as shown by the statement of returns, and if an explanation of the discrepancy has not been noted in the poll book, the receiving board shall ask the election inspectors about the discrepancy, note the explanation in the poll book, and all shall sign the notation.

(4) If the poll book or statement of returns has been erroneously sealed in the ballot container, the election inspectors may open the ballot container and remove the poll book or statement of returns. The elections inspectors and receiving board shall note the corrective action in the remarks section of the poll book and all shall sign the notation before placing the poll book or statement of returns in a separate sealed envelope. If the statement of returns was sealed in the ballot container and the poll book was sealed in an envelope, the poll book must be removed from the sealed envelope for the notation of corrective action to be recorded before placing the poll book and statement of returns in a sealed envelope. The receiving board shall notify the clerk of the board of canvassers responsible for canvassing all or a portion of the election of the corrective action taken.

(5) When the receiving board has completed the review under subsection (3), the receiving board shall place the poll book and statement of returns in the appropriate envelope, sealed with a red paper seal and initialed by the receiving board. If permitted by the clerk of the board of canvassers, the poll books and statement of returns from more than 1 precinct may be included and delivered in a single envelope.

Sec. 682. Any person employed as an inspector of election, or in any other official capacity at any election, primary election, or on any board of canvassers or board of registration, shall, except as otherwise specifically provided, receive reasonable compensation as allowed by the township board of any township, board of commissioners of any county, or the legislative body of any city, as applicable.

Sec. 683. Each county clerk before each primary and election shall, by some reliable means, notify the clerk of each township and city in the county of a training school for election inspectors to be held at a place designated by the county clerk within 20 days before each primary, general, and special election. The township and city clerks shall notify each election inspector appointed to serve at that election of the time and place of the training school. At the meeting, the county clerk shall instruct and demonstrate the manner in which the duties of election inspectors are required by law to be performed. It is the duty of the inspectors, so notified, to attend the meeting unless excused by the county clerk for good cause. Compensation may be paid to them by their respective municipalities at a rate as determined by the governing bodies. An election inspector shall not serve in any election unless he or she has within the last preceding 2 years either attended an election school or has passed satisfactorily an examination given by the election commission of the city or township in which appointed. The examination is subject to the approval of the secretary of state. This section does not prevent the appointment of an election inspector to fill a vacancy. This section does not prohibit any city or any township having a population of 10,000 or more from conducting its own training school for election inspectors of that city or township. If a city or township conducts its own training school, election inspectors who attend a city or township training school are not required to attend the county training school.

Sec. 690. The township or city board of election commissioners for each jurisdiction conducting the election shall have the ballots required for a regular or special township, village, city, school, or community college election, or official primary election for the nomination of candidates for township, city, ward, or community college offices, to be printed and delivered to the election commission’s township or city clerk at least 45 days before the election. The duties imposed upon county boards of election commissioners and upon county, township, and city clerks relative to the printing, counting, packaging, sealing, and delivery of official ballots are imposed upon the township and municipal boards of election commissioners and the township or city clerks relative to the printing, counting, packaging, sealing, and delivery of official ballots for use in each precinct of the township or city at a municipal, township, village, school, or community college election.

Sec. 694. Sections 691, 692, 693, and 695 apply to all city, village, and township elections held in this state under this act, except that the notice required to be given by a candidate shall, in case of a city, village, or township office, be given by him or her to the proper city or township board of election commissioners within 2 days after his or her name is certified as nominated by 2 or more political parties for the same office.

Sec. 719. The election commission of each city and township shall perform those duties relative to the preparation, printing, and delivery of ballots as are required by law of the boards of county election commissioners. The duties and privileges enjoined and granted by this act upon and to the various committees of the different political organizations are prescribed for city or township committees in matters pertaining to any city or township election, except that it is not necessary for a city or township committee of a political party or organization to furnish a heading for the ballots other than to designate the name of the party or political organization that they represent. In cities and townships, the names of candidates for city or township offices must be given by the committees of the various political organizations to the board of election commissioners of the city or township not less than 18 days before each election, but it is not necessary for any party committee to give to the board of election commissioners the name of any candidate nominated at an official primary election. The proof of the ballot must be open to public inspection at the office of the township or city clerk not less than 15 days before the election.

Sec. 741. The board of inspectors of election shall preserve the unused ballots, together with the ballots that have been spoiled by the electors and in place of which other ballots have been issued, and return them to the city or township clerk, or other officer provided by a city charter, with a statement of the number of ballots voted, and the clerk shall give to the election inspectors a receipt that must be filed with the chairperson of the board.

Sec. 743. An elector to whom an official ballot has been delivered is not permitted to leave the polling place without either voting the ballot or returning the ballot to the inspector from whom he or she received the ballot. An elector who attempts to leave the polling place with a ballot in his or her possession, and refuses to deliver the ballot upon request, must be at once arrested on demand of any member of the board of election inspectors.

Sec. 762. If from any precinct the township or city clerk does not receive any application for absent voter ballots, the clerk shall deliver the packages of absent voter ballots intact to the chairperson or some member of the board of election inspectors of the precinct before the opening of the polls on election day.

Sec. 764b. (1) An absent voter ballot must be delivered to the clerk only as authorized in the instructions for an absent voter provided in section 764a.

(2) The clerk of a city or township may accept delivery of absent voter ballots at any location in the city or township.

(3) The clerk of a city or township may appoint the number of assistants necessary to accept delivery of absent voter ballots at any location in the city or township. An appointment as assistant to accept delivery of absent voter ballots must be for 1 election only. An assistant appointed to receive ballots at a location other than the office of the clerk must be furnished credentials of authority by the clerk. If an absent voter’s ballot is received by an assistant at any location other than the clerk’s office the assistant, upon request, shall exhibit the credentials to the absent voter before the assistant accepts an absent voter ballot. An assistant, before entering upon the discharge of duties, shall take and subscribe to the oath of office as provided in section 1 of article XI of the state constitution of 1963. An assistant shall perform only the duties assigned by the clerk. A person must not be appointed as an assistant to accept delivery of absent voter ballots who is a candidate or a member of the immediate family of a candidate whose name appears on the ballot at that election.

(4) A clerk who receives a request from an absent voter under section 764a for assistance in returning his or her absent voter ballot shall make arrangements to collect the ballot from the voter either personally or by sending an authorized assistant, if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(a) The clerk’s office issued the absent voter ballot to that absent voter.

(b) Upon the clerk’s request, the absent voter states that he or she is unable to return the absent voter ballot by the other means specified in instructions (a), (b), or (c) of Step 5 under section 764a.

(c) The absent voter telephones the appropriate clerk for assistance on or before 5 p.m. on the Friday immediately before the election.

(d) The absent voter requests the clerk to pick up the absent voter ballot within the jurisdictional limits of the city or township in which the absent voter is registered.

(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4), a clerk who receives a request from an absent voter under section 764a for assistance in returning his or her absent voter ballot may make arrangements to collect the ballot from the voter either personally or by sending an authorized assistant, if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

(a) The clerk’s office issued the absent voter ballot to that absent voter.

(6) The clerk shall maintain a list open to the public that contains the names and addresses of all authorized assistants appointed under this section who are available to collect absent voter ballots on or before election day in that city or township.

(7) An absent voter ballot received by the clerk before the close of the polls on election day must not be invalidated solely because the delivery to the clerk was not in compliance with section 764a or this section, however the ballot must be considered challenged and must be marked and processed as provided in section 745.

Sec. 764c. If a city or township has access to the ballot tracker program provided by this state, the clerk of that city or township shall utilize the ballot tracker program and allow voters to track their absent voter ballots online.

Sec. 765. (1) A clerk who receives an absent voter ballot return envelope containing the marked ballots of an absent voter shall not open that envelope before delivering the envelope to the board of election inspectors as provided in this section. The city or township clerk shall safely keep in his or her office until election day any absent voter ballot return envelopes received by the clerk before election day containing the marked ballots of an absent voter.

(2) Before the opening of the polls on election day or as soon after the opening of the polls as possible, the clerk shall deliver the absent voter ballot return envelopes to the chairperson or other member of the board of election inspectors in the absent voter’s precinct, together with the signed absent voter ballot applications received by the clerk from any voters of that precinct and the clerk’s list or record kept relative to those absent voters. However, if higher numbered ballots are used under section 717, the clerk shall retain the applications and lists in his or her office and shall keep the applications and lists open to public inspection at all reasonable hours.

(3) The city or township clerk, or authorized designee of the clerk, shall call for and receive absent voter ballots from the post office at which the city or township clerk regularly receives mail addressed to the city or township clerk on election day in sufficient time to deliver any envelopes containing absent voter ballots to the board of election inspectors before the close of the polls.

(4) If a marked absent voter ballot is received by the clerk after the close of the polls, the clerk shall plainly mark the envelope with the time and date of receipt and shall file the envelope in his or her office. Except as otherwise provided in section 759b, the clerk shall not deliver an absent voter ballot to a voter after the opening of the polls on election day.

(5) On or before 8 a.m. on election day, the clerk shall post in the clerk’s office or otherwise make public the number of absent voter ballots the clerk distributed to absent voters and the number of absent voter ballot return envelopes containing the marked ballots of absent voters received by the clerk before election day and delivered to the board of election inspectors or the absent voter counting boards pursuant to this act. On or before 9 p.m. on election day, the clerk shall post in the clerk’s office or otherwise make public the number of absent voter ballot return envelopes containing the marked ballots of absent voters received by the clerk on election day and delivered to the board of election inspectors under subsection (3), along with the total number of absent voter ballot return envelopes containing the marked ballots of absent voters received by the clerk both before and on election day and delivered to the board of election inspectors or the absent voter counting boards under this act. As soon as possible after all precincts in the city or township are processed, the clerk shall post in the clerk’s office or otherwise make public the number of absent voter ballot return envelopes containing the marked ballots of absent voters received by the election inspectors at the precincts on election day, along with the total number of absent voter ballot return envelopes containing the marked ballots of absent voters received in the city or township for that election. This subsection applies only to elections in which a federal or state office appears on the ballot.

Sec. 766. (1) Upon receipt from the city or township clerk of any envelope containing the marked ballot or ballots of an absent voter, the board of inspectors of election shall verify the legality of the vote by doing both of the following:

(a) Examining the digitized signature for the absent voter included in the qualified voter file under section 509q or the registration record as provided in subsection (2) to see that the person has not voted in person, that he or she is a registered voter, and that the signature on the statement agrees with the signature on the registration record.

(b) Examining the statement of the voter to see that it is properly executed.

(2) The qualified voter file must be used to determine the genuineness of a signature on an envelope containing an absent voter ballot. Signature comparisons must be made with the digitized signature in the qualified voter file. If the qualified voter file does not contain a digitized signature of an elector, or is not accessible to the clerk, the city or township clerk shall compare the signature appearing on an envelope containing an absent voter ballot to the signature contained on the master card.

Sec. 957. (1) A person circulating a recall petition shall state in the certificate of circulator his or her residence address and that he or she is 18 years of age or older and a United States citizen. In addition, the certificate of circulator must indicate all of the following:

(a) That signatures appearing upon the recall petition were not obtained through fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation and that he or she has neither caused nor permitted a person to sign the recall petition more than once and has no knowledge of a person signing the recall petition more than once.

(b) That all signatures to the recall petition were affixed in his or her presence.

(c) That, to the best of his or her knowledge, information, and belief, the signers of the recall petition are qualified and registered electors and the signatures appearing on the recall petition are the genuine signatures of the persons signing the recall petition.

(2) A person who knowingly makes a false statement in the certificate of circulator is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Enacting section 1. Sections 15, 121, 149, 221 to 241, 302a, 416a to 416d, 426a to 426n, 467n, 467p, 613c, 647, 655, 656, 669a, 704, 705, 717a, 739, 761a, 802, 804, and 947 of the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.15, 168.121, 168.149, 168.221 to 168.241, 168.302a, 168.416a to 168.416d, 168.426a to 168.426n, 168.467n, 168.467p, 168.613c, 168.647, 168.655, 168.656, 168.669a, 168.704, 168.705, 168.717a, 168.739, 168.761a, 168.802, 168.804, and 168.947, are repealed.

Enacting section 2. This amendatory act takes effect December 31, 2018.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Approved

Governor