Elections: candidates; duties and responsibilities of administering elections; require to be performed by the deputy secretary of state if the secretary of state is a candidate for office. Amends secs. 21, 31 & 32 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.21 et seq.).
Key claim: Michigan HB5968 would require the deputy secretary of state to perform election-administration duties whenever the secretary of state is a candidate for office.
Abstract
(HB5968 · 103rd Legislature) Elections: candidates; duties and responsibilities of administering elections; require to be performed by the deputy secretary of state if the secretary of state is a candidate for office. Amends secs. 21, 31 & 32 of 1954 PA 116 (MCL 168.21 et seq.). Sponsor: Rep. Jennifer Wortz ® + 15 co-sponsors In committee: H Election Integrity Latest action (2026-05-14): Bill Electronically Reproduced 05/13/2026
Why this matters
Michigan’s Secretary of State is the state’s chief election officer, so any campaign by a sitting SOS creates an inherent conflict when that officer also oversees ballot access, canvassing, and administrative guidance for their own race. HB5968 would formalize a recusal mechanism by shifting those duties to the deputy secretary of state for the duration of the SOS’s candidacy, altering the chain of authority clerks look to during an election cycle.