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Lawmakers hear bill to clarify candidate-replacement rules after county candidate deaths
Summary
The House Committee on Election Integrity heard testimony on HB 4,736, which would clarify statutory procedures when a county-level candidate dies after filing deadlines; Allegan County Clerk Bob Janetsky and sponsor Chair Smith said the change would avoid inconsistent local practices and litigation.
Chair Smith introduced House Bill 4,736 on the House Committee on Election Integrity’s agenda, saying the measure would clarify what happens when a county-level candidate dies after qualifying deadlines and is not explicitly covered under current law.
"These omissions create legal ambiguities and require county clerks to rely on guidance from the secretary of state's office rather than the clear process laid out in law for almost every other political office held," Chair Smith said in opening testimony, citing recent examples from 2024.
Allegan County Clerk Bob Janetsky testified that his county faced a sudden vacancy when…
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