Title
Resolution to Permanently Relocate all Polling Places located in University of Michigan Dormitories to University of Michigan Unions
Memorandum
In November 2009, the City Clerk's Office was informed by the University of Michigan Office of Government Affairs that dormitories would no longer be made available for use as city polling locations, due to increased concerns on campus regarding student safety. Since that time, the City and the University have worked together to find acceptable new polling sites.
In securing new polling locations, the City and the University were in mutual agreement that it was in the best interest of the predominately student voters in these precincts to have the polling locations remain on campus. Conversations with students from the Michigan Student Assembly's Voice Your Vote committee confirmed that students concurred with the decision that the polling locations should remain on campus so that student voters were not disenfranchised. The University expressed its strong desire that student union buildings be considered as opposed to any classroom or athletic buildings. The student union buildings were chosen for their accessibility, prominence on campus, high visibility and the fact that they are open to the public during the entire time period that elections would be held in the buildings.
The proposed polling location changes are highlighted below:
1-7 Bursley Hall to Pierpont Commons, 2101 Bonisteel Boulevard
2-2 Mary Markley Hall to Palmer Commons, 100 Washtenaw Avenue
3-1 & 3-2 East Quad to Michigan League, 911 N. University Avenue
4-1 South Quad to Michigan Union, 530 S. State Street
Signage will be posted at the former dormitory locations for all 2010 elections to direct any voters who may still arrive at their former location. New permanent voter identification cards will be issued to all affected voters and a communication plan has been drafted to further notification efforts, specifically targeting student voters on campus. It merits note that due to the highly transient nature of the population living in the affected precincts, there are few long-term registered voters in these precincts. Many of these voters move annually from one precinct to another on and around campus, so a polling place change may be less disruptive in this area than in other areas of the city.
Pursuant to Michigan Election Law, City Council approval is required to designate and prescribe the place or places of holding an election in the city. The City Clerk's Office is requesting that City Council approve the proposed changes and authorize the City Administrator and the City Clerk to take any necessary action to implement this resolution. A copy of the draft Communication Plan and a map highlighting the changes are attached
Staff
Prepared by: Lyn Badalamenti, Election Coordinator and Jacqueline Beaudry, City Clerk
Approved by: Roger Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The University of Michigan Office of Government Affairs has informed the city clerk that dormitories are no longer available to be used as polling locations;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor and the campus community agree that it is in the best interests of the voters in these precincts to have polling locations available and accessible on the University of Michigan campus;
Whereas, The University of Michigan has agreed to the use of student union buildings for use as polling locations; and
Whereas, Michigan Election Law, 168.662 (1), requires that the legislative body in each city shall designate and prescribe the place or places of holding an election in the city, and shall provide a suitable polling place for each precinct for use at each election;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the permanent relocation of the following polling locations for all future City elections:
Precinct 1- 7 to Pierpont Commons, located at 2101 Bonisteel Boulevard; Precinct 2-2 to Palmer Commons, located at 100 Washtenaw Avenue;
Precincts 3-1 and 3-2 to the Michigan League, located at 911 N. University Avenue; and
Precinct 4-1 to the Michigan Union, located at 530 S. State Street; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator and the City Clerk be authorized to take all action necessary to implement this resolution.