2006 House Bill 5648

Limit authority of state board of canvassers

Introduced in the House

Feb. 8, 2006

Introduced by Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker (R-80)

To eliminate the authority of the state board of canvassers to "pre-approve" the language of statewide ballot question or initiatives to ensure that they meet the required standards, and transfer this authority to the director of the elections bureau in the Secretary of State office. House Bills 5648 to 5650 and Senate Bills 973 to 976 transfer authority in matters related to statewide ballot initiatives from the canvassers to the elections bureau director.

Referred to the Committee on Oversight, Elections, and Ethics

March 1, 2006

Reported without amendment

Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.

March 7, 2006

Amendment offered by Rep. Chris Ward (R-66)

To not give the authority to the director of the Secretary of State's Elections Bureau, but instead give it the fourth district of the state appeals court, which has ended up making the ruling on many recent ballot measures anyway, after actions or non-actions by the Board of Canvassers were successfully appealed.

The amendment passed by voice vote

March 8, 2006

Passed in the House 57 to 49 (details)

To eliminate the authority of the state board of canvassers to "pre-approve" the language of statewide ballot question or initiatives to ensure that they meet the required standards, and transfer this authority to the fourth district of the state appeals court, which has ended up ruling on many recent ballot measures after actions or non-actions by the Board of Canvassers were successfully appealed.

Received in the Senate

March 9, 2006

Referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Reform

March 23, 2006

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the amendments be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Amendment offered

To give the authority to the director of the Secretary of State's Elections Bureau.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 21 to 15 (details)

To eliminate the authority of the state board of canvassers to "pre-approve" the language of statewide ballot question or initiatives to ensure that they meet the required standards, and transfer this authority to the director of the elections bureau in the Secretary of State office.

Received

Passed in the Senate 26 to 10 (details)

Received in the House

March 23, 2006

April 26, 2006

Passed in the House 58 to 48 (details)

To concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill, which transfers the authority of the state board of canvassers to "pre-approve" the language of statewide ballot question or initiatives to the director of the elections bureau in the Secretary of State office.

Motion by Rep. Chris Ward (R-66)

To give the bill immediate effect.

The motion failed 58 to 48 (details)

Vetoed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

May 12, 2006