A proposal to combine Michigan’s May and August elections into a single election on the third Tuesday in June has bipartisan support among legislators and from the Secretary of State. Organizations representing local clerks also support the legislation.
Municipal clerks and the Secretary of State want more time between the primary and general election to allow for audits and ballot preparation. Additionally, with the increase in no-reason absentee voting, clerks were overwhelmed preparing for the November 2020 election.
Other reasons for support include low turnout for May elections on school and local government issues. Supporters argue that moving such measures to a June primary ballot would improve participation and reduce costs.
If passed by both chambers and signed into law, the bill would go into effect January 2023.
Thoughts to Consider
- How would improved participation in local elections impact your community?
- How could giving clerks more time between elections improve accuracy and reduce the potential for fraud?
- What might be some unintended consequences of a combined June election?
- A June primary would move the timeline of Michigan Farm Bureau’s candidate evaluation process up two months. How would this impact your county Farm Bureau’s ability to evaluate candidates and make recommendations to AgriPac?
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