HB 5968 Michigan House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Elections: candidates; duties and responsibilities of administering elections; require to be performed by the deputy secretary of state if the secretary of state is a candidate for office. Amends secs. 21, 31 & 32 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.21 et seq.).

This bill requires the deputy secretary of state to take over as the chief election officer if the current secretary of state runs for another elected office. Under this change, the incumbent secretary would be barred from supervising or administering the election in which they are a candidate, though they would keep other duties like managing election audits. The deputy secretary would assume full supervisory control over local election officials during that specific election cycle.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced May 13, 2026 Last action May 14, 2026
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Full legislative history

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Total actions
4
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Committee
1
May 13, 2026
Committee
referred to Committee on Election Integrity
lower
May 13, 2026
Introduced
introduced by Representative Rep. Jennifer Wortz
lower
1 primary · 15 co-sponsors

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