Title
Resolution to Revise the Early Voting Center Availability for the 2024 Election Cycle to Include Citywide Access at All Locations
Memorandum
On October 16, 2023, City Council approved Resolution R-23-380 establishing the City’s Early Vote Centers for the 2024 election cycle. The City’s plan included three citywide locations (City Hall, UMMA and North Campus) and three ward-based sites at the District Library branch locations (Westgate, Mallets Creek and Traverwood). The plan was created to provide multiple sites and availability for all voters to vote early if they chose. However, due to programming constraints with the existing equipment, availability at the three library sites was restricted to specific wards. Since that time, it was determined that the law only allows for early vote centers to be restricted to a specific jurisdiction, not by wards or precincts, even in the case of establishing multiple citywide locations and additional smaller sites. In correcting this error and allowing the library sites to process all City voters, the Washtenaw County Director of Elections has confirmed that the equipment can be programmed to allow for more precincts per machine than was previously recommended. In addition, last-minute legislative changes will allow the City to consolidate low turnout Election Day voting sites into larger precincts, further freeing up resources to focus on Early Voting opportunities.
As previously reported, the City Clerk’s Office plans to continue the satellite voting offices established on the campus of the University of Michigan at UMMA and the Duderstadt Center for the November General Election. A smaller scale presence will also be available to students and the campus community for the Presidential Primary at UMMA and at Pierpont Commons (attached to the Duderstadt Center). These locations, in addition to City Hall, will serve as full service voter registration and early voting locations for all Ann Arbor voters. UMMA and Duderstadt Center will not be open for early voting or voter registration during the August Primary due to anticipated low voter demand at that time.
Michigan Election Law, MCL 168.662(1) requires the approval of the location of early voting centers by the City Council, similar to the process for establishing a polling place. The exact dates and times that each location will be open to voters will be determined closer to each Election. This revised resolution corrects the availability of the three AADL branch locations to indicate all City voters can vote at any location.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: The City Clerk’s Office has an approved budget for early voting. The University of Michigan and the District Library do not charge for the use of their spaces.
Staff
Prepared by: Jacqueline Beaudry, City Clerk
Reviewed by: Matt Thomas, Assistant City Attorney
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Article II, Section 4 (m) of the Michigan Constitution establishes the right for all Michigan voters to vote early at an early voting site for nine days beginning the second Saturday before each federal election and ending on the Sunday prior to Election Day;
Whereas, Early voting must be available to every voter for at least eight hours per day during the mandatory nine-day period;
Whereas, Michigan Election Law, MCL 168.662(1) requires the approval of the location of early voting centers by the City Council, similar to the process for establishing a polling place;
Whereas, The University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor District Library have agreed to host early voting locations for Ann Arbor City voters;
Whereas, The City Clerk already provides full-service voter registration and absentee ballot services at City Hall and two satellite offices on the campus of the University of Michigan; and
Whereas, The City Clerk, in consultation with the City Election Commission, will establish the exact dates and times that each site is available to voters;
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council approves the following locations for early voting for national elections in 2024 as recommended by the Ann Arbor City Clerk:
February 27, 2024 Presidential Primary Election
• U-M Museum of Art - 525 S. State Street
• Pierpont Commons - 2101 Bonisteel Blvd.
• City Hall - 301 E. Huron Street
• Traverwood Branch Library - 3333 Traverwood Drive
• Mallets Creek Branch Library - 3090 E. Eisenhower
• Westgate Branch Library - 2503 Jackson Avenue
August 6, 2024 Primary Election
• City Hall - 301 E. Huron Street
• Traverwood Branch Library - 3333 Traverwood Drive
• Mallets Creek Branch Library - 3090 E. Eisenhower
• Westgate Branch Library - 2503 Jackson Avenue
November 5, 2024 General Election
• U-M Museum of Art - 525 S. State Street
• The Duderstadt Center - 2281 Bonisteel Blvd.
• City Hall - 301 E. Huron Street
• Traverwood Branch Library - 3333 Traverwood Drive
• Mallets Creek Branch Library - 3090 E. Eisenhower
• Westgate Branch Library - 2503 Jackson Avenue
RESOLVED, That Resolution R-23-380 be amended to reflect the corrected early vote center availability for all voters in the City;
RESOLVED, That pursuant to Statute, the City Clerk will notify all voters of their right to vote early including the exact locations available to each voter; and
RESOLVED, That the City Clerk and City Administrator be authorized to take all other action necessary to implement this resolution, including entering into an agreement with the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor District Library for use of the spaces.