Page 6 - Clinton Currents Volume XIX Issue 3 - Fall 2019

Page 6
Fall 2019
A Message from your Township Clerk
What you need to know about 2020 elections
March 10, Presidential Primary • Aug. 4, Primary • Nov. 3, Presidential General
New voter rights
In the state-wide election on Nov 6, 2018, voters approved Proposal 18-3 Constitutional Amendment “Promote the Vote” by 66.9 percent. The Constitutional Amendment allows a United States citizen who is quali ed to vote in Michigan to:
• Be automatically registered to vote when applying for, updating or renewing a driver’s license or state-issued personal identi cation card, unless the person declines
• Simultaneously register to vote with proof of residency and obtain a ballot two weeks before an election, up to and including Election Day
• Obtain an absent voter ballot without a reason
• Cast a straight-ticket vote for candidates of a
political party when voting in a partisan
general election
Language in the proposal further Constitutionalized processes already practiced by the State of Michigan:
• Military and overseas voters delivered ballots 45
days before each election • Post-election audits
Early voting
Voters can vote early by voting absentee. The only requirement is to be registered. If you wait to register during the 14 days before the election (including on Election Day), you need to visit the Clerk’s office in person and provide a single proof of residency containing your name and current address. The following are accepted:
• Driver’s License or State ID
• Current utility bill
• Bank statement or paycheck
• Government-issued check
• Government document with the voter’s name
and address
Note: Your ballot is not counted until Election Day.
A high number of absentee voters
We anticipate more voters will choose to vote absentee because of the elimination of requiring a reason to do so.
As a result, we are changing
some of our processes.
When you visit the Clerk’s
office this fall, you’ll see a
new look in the Election’s
Office. We’re purchasing
furniture that will provide
better ergonomics for our
hard-working election
inspectors who provide
accurate and efficient service to voters. To reduce wait times, you’ll see more voting booths to accommodate increased numbers of voters. I encourage you to come by the Election’s Office to see the changes.
Passport processing
My staff continues to provide courteous and professional passport service with convenient hours. Our excellent customer service has earned us a great reputation, and the public is responding. Last year we gained more than $86,000 in revenue as a result of our daily and late-night passport processing. Currently, we are on track to bring in more than $100,000 at the end of this scal year!
Going digital
Nearly 4 million documents! That’s how many the Township has recently entered into our Electronic Content Management Enterprise. There is still work to do, but we’re making huge strides progressing towards a paperless environment.
Hiring for elections
As you can see, elections are right around the corner. The Presidential Primary is March 10, 2020, and I plan to hire about 500 election workers. Election Day is a long, one, but the work is rewarding, so please consider participating in this civic opportunity. Visit our website at clintontownship.com/clerk--elections to ll out the Election Inspector Application.
Kind Regards, Kim Meltzer
Clerk Kim Meltzer