Title
Resolution to Approve the Locations for Early Voting Centers for Even-Year State and National Elections
Memorandum
Michigan voters approved Proposition 2022-2 at the November 8, 2022 General Election amending the Michigan Constitution to guarantee voters the right to vote early in State and federal elections for a minimum of nine days prior to Election Day, and to tabulate their own early vote ballot at an Early Voting Center. Under the new requirements, all voters must have an opportunity to vote early for at least eight hours per day during the early voting period, which begins two Saturdays ahead of Election Day and ends on the Sunday just prior to Election Day.
The City successfully implemented early voting in 2024 over the course of three elections - Presidential Primary, the August Primary, and the November Presidential General Election. Ann Arbor had one of the highest early voting turnouts in Michigan, with the convenient AADL branch locations, flexible evening hours, as well as a City Hall location and two campus sites, co-located with our satellite voting offices.
The City Clerk's Office is proposing to continue essentially the same Early Voting Plan that was established in 2024 for all future even-year elections. This plan includes the use of six locations for Presidential Primary and even-year General Elections: City Hall, UMMA, Duderstadt Center, Traverwood Library, Malletts Creek Library, and Westgate Library for the required nine days. The August Primary will operate for the nine days, but without the two campus locations. All sites are open and available to all City voters.
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. Currently, the EV site at City Hall operates on a 9am - 5pm schedule, with the ...
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