On the heels of the election controversy involving State Representative Roy Schmidt (R-Grand Rapids) and House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall), members of the House Democratic Caucus held press conferences throughout the State this week to unveil a package of seven further election reform bills targeting election fraud.

• The package includes measures to: Prevent incumbent candidates from holding a fundraiser or in any way fundraising without publicly disclosing switching parties after the candidate has signed an affidavit switching parties for re-election. 
•  Require affidavits for candidacy to be filed in person by certain candidates, including those for state legislative offices. 
• Similar to judges, a requirement for incumbent elected officials to file for re-election one week earlier than challengers. 
•  Require candidates who have switched political parties to return all campaign contributions made to the candidate to the contributor, including interest, for one calendar year prior to the date of the switch. 
•  If a candidate switches political parties seven days of less prior to the election, provide the political party losing the member the ability to chose a candidate within 14 days of the filing deadline. 
• Require candidates running for state legislative office to live in the district for a minimum of 60 days prior to running for office. 
• Increase fines for election fraud, including making a false affidavit, from $1,000 to $10,000.