HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS
REP. PENELOPE TSERNOGLOU
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, April 20, 2023
1:00 PM
Room 327, House Office Building
The House Committee on Elections was called to order by Chair Tsernoglou.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches, Smit, DeBoyer.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Representative Hope moved to adopt the meeting minutes from April 11, 2023. There being
no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid SB 259 before the committee:
SB 259
(Sen. Wojno)
A bill to amend 1954 PA 116, entitled "Michigan
election law," by amending sections 759a and
764a (MCL 168.759a and 168.764a), section 759a
as amended by 2022 PA 197 and section 764a as
amended by 2020 PA 177.
Bill Drake, representing Senator Wojno's Office, testified in support of SB 259. Questions
and discussion followed.
Erin Schor, representing the Michigan Department of State, testified in support of SB 259.
Questions and discussion followed.
Terry Sabo, representing the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, testified
with no position on SB 259. Questions and discussion followed.
Chris Swope, representing the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks, testified in support
of SB 259. Questions and discussion followed.
Melanie Macey, representing Promote the Vote, testified in support of SB 259. Questions and
discussion followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of SB 259, but did not wish to speak:
Olivia Luckey, representing the Michigan Democratic Party.
Matt Patton, representing Protect Democracy.
Rusty Merchant, representing Secure Democracy.
Judy Karandjeff, representing the League of Women Voters of Michigan.
Brad Williams, representing the Detroit Regional Chamber.
Jamie Lyons-Eddy, representing Voters Not Politicians.
Bill Zaagman, representing the Michigan Association of County Clerks.
Merissa Kovach, representing the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.
Representative Smit offered the following amendment to SB 259:
1. Amend page 10, line 1, after "is" by striking out "missing or".
Representative Smit moved to adopt the amendment to SB 259. The motion did not prevail 2-
6-0:
UNFAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Smit, DeBoyer.
Nays: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches.
Pass: None.
Representative DeBoyer offered the following amendment to SB 259:
1. Amend page 10, line 11, after "any" by striking out "delivery service" and inserting
"common carrier".
Representative DeBoyer moved to adopt the amendment to SB 259. The motion did not
prevail 2-6-0:
UNFAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Smit, DeBoyer.
Nays: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches.
Pass: None.
Representative Byrnes moved to report out SB 259 with recommendation. The motion
prevailed 6-2-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Tsernoglou, Wegela, Hope, Koleszar, Byrnes, Churches.
Nays: Reps. Smit, DeBoyer.
Pass: None.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Tsernoglou adjourned the
meeting at 1:59 PM.
Representative Penelope Tsernoglou, Chair
Edward Sleeper
Committee Clerk
esleeper@house.mi.gov