Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has set a date for a special election to fill Virgil Smith’s former state senate seat. Smith’s resignation became effective after beginning a 10-month jail sentence related to a shooting incident involving his ex-wife.

A primary election for the vacant 4th district seat will be held August 2, 2016. The general election is scheduled for November 8, 2016.

Gov. Snyder has called a special election to fill the vacancy in House District 28 following the appointment of State Rep. Derek Miller as the Macomb County Treasurer. The special primary election will be held on August 2, with the special general election slated for November 8. Both special elections align with the primary and general election dates for the current election cycle.

The special election is for a term running through January 1, 2017. Candidates are able to run for the term expiring on January 1, 2017 as well as the full term after.

A federal judge has put a temporary stop on a controversial part of a recently passed campaign finance bill. Senate Bill 571, which included significant changes in the state’s election law, contained a provision prohibiting the use of public resources by public entities such as schools and libraries in the 60 days before an election.

The provision was found to be unconstitutionally vague, as it did not clarify what was permissible. While several bills to fix the provision have subsequently been introduced, it is likely none of them will be passed by the upcoming March 8 election.

This week, Governor Snyder signed Senate Bill 571, a bill that affects what public officials and organizations can and cannot do within 60 days of an election. The bill prohibits local officials from publicly discussing ballot proposals or millage issues in the 60 days leading up to an election.

Despite approving the bill, Snyder urged the Legislature to pass further legislation clarifying some key provisions of the bill that some say infringe on protected free political speech. The 53 page bill was originally much shorter until last minute amendments were passed with no public hearings. Senate Bill 571 also eliminates the need for February quarterly reports for political action committees.

A special primary election has been scheduled for November 3, 2015, to fill the seats in state House Districts 80 and 82.

These seats were previously held by Rep. Cindy Gamrat and Rep. Todd Courser, respectively. Gamrat was expelled by the House on September 11, 2015, and Courser resigned the same day following allegations of misconduct and misuse of taxpayer resources in an attempt to hide their extramarital affair.

Now, despite opposition from the House, both are running in the special election to fill these seats. If either or both of them win, there is speculation the House could refuse to seat them; however, most representatives seem reluctant to commit to such action at this point.

The special general election will be held on March 8, 2016.

On August 3, Gov. Rick Snyder called for a special election to fill the House District 75 seat, vacated by State Rep. Brando Dillon on the same day. The special election will be held on March 8, 2016, with the primary election to be held on November 3, 2015.

Voters in Flint, Michigan have selected nine members to serve on the Flint Charter Review Commission. Such a commission hasn’t been formed in the city for nearly 40 years.

Commissioners have up to three years to revise the city’s charter. The revisions must ultimately be approved by voters in a citywide referendum election.

Proposed revisions can be put up to a vote three times. In the event voters reject the proposed charter after three referenda, the commission is dissolved.

Two Senate bills pertaining to Michigan election law were signed by Gov. Rick Snyder on February 19, 2015.

Senate Bills 44 and 45 change the date of the presidential primary election to the second Tuesday in March.

The bills will take effect in time for the 2016 presidential primary election.

Earlier this year, the Committee to Restore Michigan’s Part-time Legislature circulated a statewide petition to amend the Michigan Constitution. The proposed amendment aimed to institute a part-time state Legislature and limit legislative sessions to 60 days, lawmaker salaries to $35,000, and total legislative staffers to 250.

The committee announced on June 12, 2014, it is suspending its campaign due to failure to collect enough signatures by the June deadline. The committee needed at least 322,609 signatures in order to get the amendment on the ballot in November.

Although the campaign is suspended for the 2014 election, the committee plans to resurrect the effort in 2016.

The Service Employees International Union has agreed to pay a $199,000 fine in a settlement agreement arising out of allegations of campaign finance violations. This fine is the second-largest in the history of the state.

The violations were a result of a 2012 ballot question to amend the state Constitution regarding home health care. They included commingling of funds, late filings, not identifying all accounts used, and not providing complete or accurate campaign statements.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson said of the settlement agreement, “This agreement reflects our commitment to transparency and accountability in the campaign finance process, especially in an election year.”

A statewide petition to amend the Michigan Constitution was approved by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers last week. The proposed amendment would institute a part-time state Legislature and limit legislative sessions to 60 days, lawmaker salaries to $35,000, and total legislative staffers to 250.

The committee seeking the amendment must collect at least 322,609 signatures in order to get the amendment on the ballot in November.

The State of Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget –Procurement is holding a seminar on Contracting with the State of Michigan. It will be held January 23, 2014 from 2:00pm—4:30pm at Constitution Hall, 525 West Allegan Street, Lansing MI 48933.

Topics to be addressed include finding bid opportunities, where to register as a vendor, researching upcoming solicitations, common mistakes made when writing a proposal, rules and guidelines for state contracts, purchasing preferences, and bid solicitation structures.

Interested parties can register here.

Governor Rick Snyder signed a bill Friday revising Michigan’s campaign finance law. Under the new law, an individual will be able to donate up to $6,800 to a candidate for statewide office in a single election cycle, up from $3,400. An individual will be able to donate $2,000 for state House and Senate candidates, up from $1,000. Local candidate caps depend on the size of the community.

The new law marks the first increase to state contribution limits since the late 1970s. The new law also requires the sponsors of “issue ads” to include disclaimers on their materials identifying the party responsible for the ad.

The Michigan Legislature is considering a bill to amend existing campaign finance law.

The bill would require those making independent expenditures for a candidate or ballot question within 60 days of an election where that candidate or ballot question is on the ballot to file an electronic report with the secretary of state within seven days of making such expenditure.

Failure to file such a report would result in a late filing fee equal to the lesser of the total amount of the independent expenditure or $2,000.