Signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that moves Michigan's presidential primary from February 26 to January 15 for the 2008 election year.

Highlights:

-Presidential primary will be held on January 15, 2008 and the fourth Tuesday in February for every presidential election year thereafter [Sec. 613a (1)]. -Allows the state Party Chairpersons to cancel the scheduled primary if they all agree upon an alternate method for selecting delegates for their party's national convention, but must notify the Sectary of State before November 14 [Sec. 613a (2)]. -Requires a political party to have received at least 20 percent of the state-wide vote in the last presidential primary to participate in this years presidential primary as opposed to the previous benchmark of 5 percent [Sec. 613a (3)]. -Each individual elector must declare in writing which political party primary he or she wishes to participate in [Sec 615c (1)]. -Disallows State party's from using the elector party selection records, except for the purpose of supporting candidates and ballot measures endorsed by that party [Sec. 615c (7-11)]. -Requires the Secretary of State to determine the procedures by which the State will contact absentee voters to offer them the opportunity to select which party's primary they intend to vote in, and ensure the confidentiality of absentee ballots [Sec. 759c (A-B)].

Full Bill Text