February 12, 2003, Introduced by Reps. Spade, Vagnozzi and Sheltrown and referred to the Committee on Local Government and Urban Policy.
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled
"Michigan election law,"
by amending section 662 (MCL 168.662), as amended by 1999 PA 216,
and by adding section 659.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 659. (1) If a city, ward, township, or village is
2 divided into 2 or more election precincts and a city, ward,
3 township, or village election is uncontested because the number
4 of candidates for an elective office is equal to or less than the
5 total number of candidates to be elected, the election
6 commissioners of the city, ward, township, or village may, by
7 resolution, consolidate the city's, ward's, township's, or
8 village's election precincts for that election only. If the
9 ballot includes a ballot question or candidates for a state or
10 federal elective office, a city, ward, township, or village shall
1 not consolidate election precincts for a primary, general, or
2 special election.
3 (2) A consolidation under this section shall be made not less
4 than 7 days after the deadline for candidate withdrawals for the
5 elective offices to be nominated or elected at that election.
6 (3) If a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for
7 an elective office is filed under section 737a after a resolution
8 has been passed to consolidate election precincts for that
9 election under subsection (1), that election is considered to be
10 an uncontested election for the purposes of this section.
11 (4) If a city, ward, township, or village consolidates
12 election precincts under subsection (1), the election
13 commissioners or other designated election officials shall do
14 both of the following:
15 (a) Provide to the registered electors of the consolidated
16 election precincts notice of the consolidation of election
17 precincts for that election and notice of the location of the
18 polling place for the election precinct or precincts for that
19 election. The notice required under this subsection may be
20 provided by mail or in the same manner as provided in
21 section 653a.
22 (b) Post a written notice at each polling place that is not
23 utilized because of the consolidation of election precincts that
24 states the location of the polling place for affected registered
25 electors for that election.
26 Sec. 662. (1) The legislative body in each city, village,
27 and township shall
designate and prescribe the place or places
1 of holding an election in the city, village, or township, and
2 shall provide a suitable polling place in or for each precinct
3 located in the city, village, or township for use at each
4 election. Except as otherwise provided in this section, school
5 buildings, fire stations, police stations, and other publicly
6 owned or controlled buildings shall be used as polling places.
7 If it is not possible or convenient to use a publicly owned or
8 controlled building as a polling place, the legislative body of
9 the city, township, or village may use as a polling place a
10 building owned or controlled by an organization that is exempt
11 from federal income tax pursuant
to under section 501(c) other
12 than 501(c)(4), (5), or (6) of the internal revenue code of 1986,
13 or any a
successor statute. The legislative body of a city,
14 township, or village shall not designate as a polling place a
15 building that is owned by a person who is a sponsor of a
16 political committee or independent committee. A city, township,
17 or village shall not use as a polling place a building that does
18 not meet the requirements of this section. As used in this
19 subsection, "sponsor of a political committee or independent
20 committee" means a person who is described as being a sponsor
21 under section 24(3) 24
of the Michigan campaign finance act,
22 1976 PA 388, MCL 169.224, and includes a subsidiary of a
23 corporation or a local of
a labor organization, which if the
24 corporation or labor organization is considered a sponsor under
25 section 24(3) 24
of the Michigan campaign finance act, 1976
26 PA 388, MCL 169.224.
27 (2) The legislative body in each city, village, and township
1 shall make arrangements for the rental or erection of suitable
2 buildings for use as polling places if publicly owned or
3 controlled buildings are
not available, and shall cause have
4 the polling places to
be equipped with the necessary facilities
5 for lighting and with adequate facilities for heat and
6 ventilation. The legislative body may establish a central
7 polling place or places for 6 precincts or less if it is possible
8 and convenient for the electors to vote at the central polling
9 place. The legislative body may abolish other polling places not
10 required as a result of the establishment of a central polling
11 place.
12 (3) The legislative body of a city, village, or township may
13 establish a polling place at a for profit or nonprofit residence
14 or facility in which 150 persons or more aged 62 or older reside
15 or at an apartment building or complex in which 150 persons or
16 more reside. A township board may provide polling places located
17 within the limits of a city that has been incorporated from
18 territory formerly a part of the township, and the electors of
19 the township may cast their ballots at those polling places.
20 (4) The Except
as provided in section 659, the legislative
21 body of a city, village, or township shall not establish, move,
22 or abolish a polling place less than 60 days before an election
23 unless necessary because a polling place has been damaged,
24 destroyed, or rendered inaccessible or unusable as a polling
25 place.
26 (5) The legislative body of a city, village, or township
27 shall ensure that a polling place established under this section
1 complies with the voting accessibility for the elderly and
2 handicapped act, Public Law 98-435, 42 U.S.C. 1973ee to
3 1973ee-6.