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Read. Follow. Verify.Michigan Senate Bill 691 shifts primary election dates from August to May
Last action · March 18, 2026: referred to Committee on Election IntegritySponsors: Sam Singh and 1 other
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What This Bill Would Do
Senate Bill 691 eliminates the August primary election date, moves primary elections for state, county, and local offices to the May , and adds a February regular election date. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2028.
Changes the calendar for candidate filing deadlines, petition circulation windows, and party convention timelines across all state and local elections starting in 2028.
- Michigan election law governs voter registration, candidate petition filing, primary and general election schedules, and campaign administration. context
- Primary elections in Michigan have traditionally been held in August prior to the November general election. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
qualified and registered electors
Voters participate in primary elections held in May instead of August under the revised schedule.
political party candidates
Candidates must meet adjusted petition filing deadlines tied to the new May primary date.
county clerks
Clerks manage updated schedules for receiving nominating petitions, processing voter file cancellations, and preparing primary ballots for May.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does this change to the primary election date take effect?
What month are primary elections moved to?
What new election date is added by the bill?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
13 actions- Mar 18, 2026HouseCommitteereferred to Committee on Election Integrity
- Mar 18, 2026HouseIntroducedread a first time
- Mar 18, 2026Housereceived on 03/18/2026
- Mar 18, 2026SenateFloorPASSED ROLL CALL # 32 YEAS 15 NAYS 18 EXCUSED 4 NOT VOTING 0
- Mar 18, 2026SenateSUBSTITUTE (S-3) DEFEATED
- Mar 18, 2026SenateAMENDMENT(S) DEFEATED
Show 7 earlier actions
- Mar 17, 2026SenatePLACED ON ORDER OF THIRD READING WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-2)
- Mar 17, 2026SenateSUBSTITUTE (S-2) CONCURRED IN
- Mar 17, 2026SenateREPORTED BY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FAVORABLY WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-2)
- Mar 12, 2026SenateCommitteeREFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-2)
- Mar 12, 2026SenateCommitteeREPORTED FAVORABLY WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-2) 3/11/2026
- Oct 30, 2025SenateCommitteeREFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS AND ETHICS
- Oct 30, 2025SenateIntroducedINTRODUCED BY SENATOR SAM SINGH
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Consolidation of Primary Election Schedule
The legislation systematically replaces references to August primaries with May primaries across dozens of sections of the Michigan election law.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.mi.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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