§ 168.31Secretary of state; duties as to elections; rules

Sec. 31.
     (1) The secretary of state shall do all of the following:




                                                                     Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 9 of 2026
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    (a) Subject to subsection (2), issue instructions and promulgate rules pursuant to the
 administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, for the conduct
 of elections and registrations in accordance with the laws of this state.
    (b) Advise and direct local election officials as to the proper methods of conducting
 elections.
    (c) Publish and furnish for the use in each election precinct before each state primary and
 election a manual of instructions that includes specific instructions on assisting voters in
 casting their ballots, directions on the location of voting stations in polling places, procedures
 and forms for processing challenges, and procedures on prohibiting campaigning in the polling
 places as prescribed in this act.
    (d) Publish indexed pamphlet copies of the registration, primary, and election laws and
 furnish to the various county, city, township, and village clerks a sufficient number of copies
 for their own use and to enable them to include 1 copy with the election supplies furnished
 each precinct board of election inspectors under their respective jurisdictions. The secretary of
 state may furnish single copies of the publications to organizations or individuals who request
 the same for purposes of instruction or public reference.
    (e) Prescribe and require uniform forms, notices, and supplies the secretary of state
 considers advisable for use in the conduct of elections and registrations.
    (f) Prepare the form of ballot for any proposed amendment to the constitution or proposal
 under the initiative or referendum provision of the constitution to be submitted to the voters of
 this state.
    (g) Require reports from the local election officials the secretary of state considers
 necessary.
    (h) Investigate, or cause to be investigated by local authorities, the administration of
 election laws, and report violations of the election laws and regulations to the attorney general
 or prosecuting attorney, or both, for prosecution.
    (i) Publish in the legislative manual the vote for governor and secretary of state by
 townships and wards and the vote for members of the state legislature cast at the preceding
 November election, which shall be returned to the secretary of state by the county clerks on or
 before the first day of December following the election. All clerks shall furnish to the secretary
 of state, promptly and without compensation, any further information requested of them to be
 used in the compilation of the legislative manual.
    (j) Establish a curriculum for comprehensive training and accreditation of all county, city,
 township, and village officials who are responsible for conducting elections.
    (k) Establish a continuing election education program for all county, city, township, and
 village clerks.
    (l) Establish and require attendance by all new appointed or elected election officials at an
 initial course of instruction within 6 months before the date of the election.
    (m) Establish a comprehensive training curriculum for all precinct inspectors.
    (n) Create an election day dispute resolution team that has regional representatives of the
 department of state, which team shall appear on site, if necessary.
    (2) Pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to
 24.328, the secretary of state shall promulgate rules establishing uniform standards for state
 and local nominating, recall, and ballot question petition signatures. The standards for petition
 signatures may include, but need not be limited to, standards for all of the following:
    (a) Determining the validity of registration of a circulator or individual signing a petition.
    (b) Determining the genuineness of the signature of a circulator or individual signing a
 petition, including digitized signatures.


                                                               Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 9 of 2026
Rendered Thursday, April 30, 2026           Page 22 of 478                             Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov

   (c) Proper designation of the place of registration of a circulator or individual signing a
 petition.