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Rep. Wartz proposes bill to let townships contract outside clerks when vacancies leave no deputy available
Summary
Representative Wartz told the House Committee on Election Integrity that House Bill 5717 would let townships contract with accredited, qualified individuals to perform clerk duties when a township has no available deputy; witnesses said rural townships face staffing shortages driven by low pay and increased election responsibilities.
Representative Wartz, sponsor of House Bill 5717, told the House Committee on Election Integrity the measure would "require townships to contract with a qualified individual to fill in for a vacant clerkship when no deputy is available." She said the change responds to rural townships that cannot find an elector inside the township willing and able to perform the clerk duties.
Hillsdale County Clerk Abe Dayne, testifying in support, described practical strain on local clerks and the accreditation burden tied to modern election administration. "A lot of my township clerks make about $10,000 a year, maybe $15,000 a year," Dayne said, and reported that roughly half of his township clerks either lack a deputy under oath or have deputies who have not completed election accreditation. He told the committee counties are sometimes asked to step in but that county involvement can create "bad optics" and that the Bureau of Elections has signaled it does not want to be the last-minute statewide administrator.
Committee members asked whether the proposed contracting option would displace deputies or override existing appointment authority. The sponsor said deputies continue to serve where applicable but noted that deputies serve "at the pleasure of that clerk during their term," and in cases of resignation the deputy often leaves with the clerk. The sponsor said the contracted individual would need accreditation and access to state systems (for example, the Qualified Voter File) and that townships would be required to receive reports from a contracted clerk so local boards retain oversight.
Members also raised administrative and tax questions. Representative Outman relayed concerns from the Michigan Township Association about limiting appointment options and possible IRS implications for contracting with an individual already employed by a municipality; the sponsor said the accreditation ties to the individual rather than to the municipality and described the arrangement as typical contracting work (a 1099) where appropriate.
Representative Kolazar, who said her township clerk had "just resigned on Friday," asked whether a population threshold should limit the bill; the sponsor replied she preferred not to narrow the option because shortages can arise in any size township and described the contracting option as a "fire alarm" last resort after other remedies fail.
No formal action was taken on HB 5717 during the hearing. Supporters listed on the record included Bill Zagman of the Michigan Association of County Clerks and Sherry Richie of Pure Integrity, Michigan Elections.
Next steps: The committee heard the bill and took testimony but did not vote on HB 5717 at this meeting; additional review, drafting refinement and stakeholder consultation were discussed as likely follow-up steps.
