Bill > SB0962

This bill, titled the "Voting and Elections Database and Institute Act," establishes a new entity called the Michigan Voting and Elections Database and Institute, which will be created through an agreement between the Secretary of State and one or more public research universities by November 5, 2027. This institute will serve as a central, publicly accessible repository for election and voting data from all local governments in Michigan, and will also conduct research on voting and election best practices. The institute will offer classes, organize research groups, host seminars, and provide nonpartisan technical assistance to local governments, scholars, and the public. It will maintain and make publicly available, at no cost and in an electronic format, at least 12 years of election and voting data, including precinct-level election results, voter registration and history data, polling place information, and redistricting plans, while implementing strong cybersecurity measures. The agreement to create the institute will have an initial term of at least 25 years, with the universities selecting the director, and the Secretary of State will cover the initial agreement costs and data transfer, while the universities will bear other operational expenses. State agencies and local governments are required to provide publicly available election data to the Secretary of State, who will then transfer it to the institute, with local governments being reimbursed for their costs, and after the data is posted online, they will no longer be obligated to provide it under the Freedom of Information Act. This bill is contingent on the enactment of Senate Bills 961 and 963 of the 103rd Legislature.