Title
Resolution to Temporarily Relocate Precincts 1-1, 1-12 and 4-1 for the August 7 and November 6, 2018 Elections due to Construction at the Michigan Union
Memorandum
The City Clerk’s Office has been notified by the University of Michigan that the Michigan Union, located at 530 S. State Street, will be under renovation for nearly two years, beginning in April 2018. The Michigan Union currently hosts precincts 1-1 and 1-12 in Ward 1 and precinct 4-1 in Ward 4. The Clerk’s Office has worked with the University to secure temporary polling places for the upcoming August Primary and November General Election for each of these precincts.
Due to the proximity to the existing polling location and access for a large population of student voters, temporary sites on campus were chosen. The City Clerk’s Office is proposing that precincts 1-1 and 1-12 be temporarily located in Rackham Graduate School, 915 E. Washington Street, and precinct 4-1 be temporarily located in the UM Coliseum, 721 S. Fifth. Both of these sites offer large spaces for the anticipated voter turnout in November.
At its meeting on Tuesday, February 27, the City Election Commission recommended approval of the proposed temporary relocations for all three precincts.
Later this summer and after the May 8 Special Election, the City Clerk’s Office will mail postcard notices of the temporary change to each affected voter in Precincts 1-1, 1-12, and 4-1, in addition to other City Communication methods, such as press releases, website posting, and social media. Signage will also be posted at the Michigan Union on August 7 and November 6 alerting voters of the change.
The City Clerk’s Office is requesting that City Council authorize the City Clerk and the City Administrator to take any necessary action to implement this resolution.
Staff
Prepared by: Jacqueline Beaudry, City Clerk
Approved and Sponsored by: City Election Commission
Approved by: Howard S. Lazarus, City Administrator
Body
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;
Whereas, The City Clerk’s Office has been notified by the University of Michigan staff that the Michigan Union at 530 S. State, the permanent polling location of Precincts 1-1, 1-12 and 4-1 will be under construction for renovation and remodeling work for the August 7 Primary and November 6 General Elections and will be unusable as a polling place during that time; and
Whereas, The City Clerk has located suitable temporary polling place locations for Precincts 1-1, 1-12 and 4-1, which due to the close proximity to the permanent sites and the accessibility of the proposed temporary locations, minimizes any adverse impacts to voters;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the temporary relocations of Precincts 1-1 and 1-12 to the Rackham Graduate School at 915 E. Washington Street and Precinct 4-1 to the Michigan Coliseum at 721 S. Fifth Avenue for the August 7 Primary and November 6 General Election; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator and the City Clerk be authorized to take all action necessary to implement this resolution and notify affected voters of the changes.
Sponsored by: City Election Commission