LANSING, Mich. (Feb. 17, 2021) — Sen. Paul Wojno (D-Warren) has introduced two bills as part of a bipartisan legislative package that would change the election dates in Michigan to better balance the election calendar for local clerks and court challenges.
Included in the legislation are Senate Bills 131 and 133, introduced by Sen. Wojno, and Senate Bills 130 and 132, introduced by Sen. Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton). The bills would change state law to move the state and local election dates in May up to March and move the August primary election date to June. This would allow local clerks more time to prepare absentee ballots between the primary and general elections, and also allow courts to hear cases on delays, recounts, or challenges leading up to an important November general or midterm election.
“Our local clerks are under serious stress and face a significant workload in ensuring that we have fair, secure, and efficient elections,” Sen. Wojno said. “Moving our elections to March and June would give them more time to complete their pre- and post-election duties before the larger November elections. I look forward to working with my legislative colleagues on these bills that are easy reforms that would provide clerks relief.”
Local clerks had to process 3.2 million absentee ballots in Michigan, putting them under enormous stress leading up to the November 2020 general election. Looking back, if the primary election had taken place in June, clerks would have had an additional two months to complete post-primary duties before processing applications and sending out ballots before the November election.
“If we can get these bills passed, Michigan would join 22 other states and Washington D.C. who hold either a state primary or presidential primary in June,” added Sen. Wojno. “These changes will help balance out the election calendar and more closely mirror other presidential primary dates around the country, and it’s time for us to make that happen here in Michigan too.”
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