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HB 4652

Elections: special elections; governor to announce the date of the special election to fill a vacancy in the legislature within 30 days after the vacancy occurs and to hold the special election within 180 days after the vacancy occurs; require. Amends secs. 178, 634 & 641 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.178 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4653'25

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Alexander and 16 co-sponsors

Michigan governor must announce legislative vacancy elections within 30 days and conduct them within 180 days of the vacancy occurring.

bill electronically reproduced 06/12/2025
#elections:specialelections #legislature:legislators #stateagencies(existing):executiveoffice
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Bill Summary · HB 4652

Legislative bill overview

HB 4652 requires Michigan's governor to announce the date of a special election within 30 days of a legislative vacancy occurring and to hold that election within 180 days of the vacancy. The bill amends Michigan's election code to establish these specific timelines for filling vacant state legislative seats.

Why is this important

Vacant legislative seats can leave districts unrepresented for extended periods, potentially affecting constituent services and voting power in the legislature. Clear timelines ensure predictability for candidates, election administrators, and voters while preventing indefinite delays in filling vacancies. The bill is tied to HB 4653, suggesting complementary election procedure changes.

Potential points of contention

  • Timeline feasibility: Whether 180 days is sufficient for candidate filing, campaign periods, and voter preparation, or if it creates logistical pressure on election administrators
  • Executive power: Whether mandating specific gubernatorial actions within fixed timeframes is appropriate or limits executive discretion in unusual circumstances (special sessions, election security issues, etc.)
  • Partisan timing: Concerns that compressed timelines could disadvantage certain candidates or parties depending on when vacancies occur (mid-year vs. near general elections)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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