Special School Elections & Proposal 18-3

As a reminder, local jurisdictions may no longer "opt-out" of the issuance of absent voter ballots for an election. Both the Michigan Constitution as amended by Proposal 18-3 and accompanying legislation passed last year require clerks to be available for the issuance of absent voter ballots and voter registration for all elections, regardless of local clerk duties established in current school election coordinating committee plans.

While local jurisdictions may continue to opt-out of polling place functions, clerks for each jurisdiction with voters in the special school election must now:

• issue all absent voter ballots, including military and overseas voters, beginning 45 days prior to an election
• keep the clerk's office open for at least eight hours (in some combination of Saturday and/or Sunday hours) the weekend prior to the election for issuance of absentee ballots and voter registration, and post and enter into QVF the eight hours the clerk's office will be open
• be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day to process same-day voter registrations and issue absent voter ballots to those voters if they choose not to go to the polls

Review the Consolidated Election Instructions and Absentee Ballot Transmittal Form for more information.

AV Processing & Funding Survey

We'd like to hear from all clerks about their current processes and interest in applying for AVCB tabulator grant funds. Please answer this brief Election Day absent voter ballot processing survey to help us gather more information about your process and needs.

Temporary Precinct Consolidations for November Elections

Election Commission Requirements

The deadline for temporary precinct consolidations for the November election is Friday, September 6. Things to remember:

• the Election Commission must pass a resolution 
• a consolidated precinct cannot contain more than 5,000 active registered voters
• only whole precincts may be combined
• voters must be notified by mail if their polling location has changed
• notice must be posted at the closed polling location and provide directions to the new polling location
• temporary consolidations are only permissible in non-state/federal elections

For more information regarding the temporary consolidation of precincts, please refer to Chapter 14 of the Election Officials’ Manual or the online course titled Voting Precincts and Polling Locations.

New Affidavits of Identity & Declaration of Intent

The Forms Committee has completed the revision of the following forms:

• Affidavit of Identity
• Affidavit of Identity - Precinct Delegate
• Write-In Declaration of Intent

2020 candidates should use these new forms. However, the 2/2019 version of the Affidavit of Identity is also acceptable. All others should be destroyed.

The Precinct Delegate Write-In Declaration of Intent form is still under revision and will be forthcoming.

BOE Job Opening

The Bureau of Elections is hiring a new Election Specialist to support the implementation of no-reason absentee voting.

This Election Specialist position's main responsibilities would be:

• develop and maintain training materials and conduct training for in-person and online training
• coordinate and manage data collection and reporting requirements
• coordinate and manage communication plans
• assist with the oversight of Michigan's nearly 1,600 county and local election offices in the performance of their duties to ensure proper practices and procedures
• assist with specialized projects and complete other advanced election related tasks

This is a two-year limited term position that may be extended. This posting comes down at midnight September 11. Use this link to apply.

BOE Question of the Week:

We're having a special election, can we send AV applications to voters who are being sent to a consolidated precinct?

Answer: No. A voter must request an application or to be placed on the permanent AV list. However, in the notice, the option to vote absentee and a url to an application can be provided.

Have a question you'd like to see in the Question of the Week?  Send it to Elections@Michigan.gov.