Election Commission

Authorizing Statute:
Michigan Election Law, Public Act 116 of 1954, MCL 168.26.

Authorities and Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Establishing the boundaries and determining the size of township precincts, depending on the voting equipment used (MCLs 168.658 and 168.661);

Assessing the township’s voting equipment needs and recommending voting equipment to the township board (MCL 168.670);

Printing and proofing ballots and furnishing election supplies for elections not held in conjunction with state or county elections (MCL 168.670);

Supplying programming information for township punch card or electronic voting machines (MCL 168.795b);

Testing township punch card or electronic voting machine programs in preliminary and public accuracy tests (MCL 168.798);

Appointing three or more election inspectors per precinct for every election, which can now include a qualified 17-year-old person (MCL 168.674);

Designating the chairperson of the election inspectors (MCL 168.674); and

Establishing precinct absent voter counting boards in townships with more than two precincts using voting machines or in townships using paper and punch card machines that choose to establish an absent voter counting board (MCL 168.792a).

Membership:
General Law Township: The township supervisor, clerk and treasurer shall constitute the board of township election commissioners.

Charter Township: The township clerk and two trustees appointed by the township board shall constitute the board of township election commissioners.

Two members shall be a quorum for the transaction of business. The township clerk shall act as chairman of the board. Should only 1 of said officers be in attendance on the day appointed for a meeting of the board, the officer in attendance shall appoint a qualified and registered elector of the township to act in the absentee's stead during the period of nonattendance.

Compensation to Members:
May be compensated, as determined by the township board.

OMA/FOIA Status:
Public body subject to Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act.