Title
Resolution to Amend the Hours of the City Clerk Satellite Office on the University of Michigan Campus for the November 8, 2022 General Election at the Museum of Art (UMMA) on Friday, October 14, 2022
Memorandum
Upon the direction of the City Council, the City Clerk opened a satellite office at the UM Museum of Art for the November 2020 General Election. The satellite office at UMMA was widely lauded in the elections community and the University community as a great success, providing maximum exposure, access and visibility for voter registration opportunities and access to absentee (early) ballots for the campus community during the height of the pandemic.
Michigan Election Law requires the approval of the location and hours by the City Council, similar to the process for establishing a polling place, and on June 6, 2022, City Council approved the re-opening of the office beginning on September 27, 2022. Since the approval of the original dates and hours, the Clerk’s Office has been asked to participate in UMMA’s Feel Good Friday event on Friday, October 14 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. This event is anticipated to bring in more than 500 students to the Museum and will provide the Clerk’s Office the opportunity to provide additional access to voting for the campus community prior to Election Day.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: The City Clerk’s Office has an approved budget for the set-up, acquisition of materials and supplies, and for staffing of a satellite office. The University is not charging for the use of the space in the museum.
Staff
Prepared by: Jacqueline Beaudry, City Clerk
Reviewed by: John Fournier, Assistant City Administrator
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Article II, Section 4 (f) and (g) of the Michigan Constitution establish the following rights: 1) Absentee balloting for all voters who choose to vote in that manner; 2) Voter registration any time before and during election day; 3) Voting immediately upon registration; and 4) Availability of at least eight hours during the Saturday or Sunday prior to an election during which time citizens may register and or vote;
Whereas, Michigan Election Law, MCL 168.761b(3), permits the clerk of a city or township to specify additional locations and hours that the clerk will be available to issue and receive absent voter ballots, upon the approval by resolution of the governing body of a city or township;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Council enacted R-19-524, a Resolution to Develop a Plan to Expand Access to Voting and Registration Beyond the Minimum Required by the Michigan Constitution for Even-Year November General Elections;
Whereas, R-19-524, directed that the plan includes registration and absentee balloting at a satellite location designed to improve access over exclusive reliance on the Office of the City Clerk in City Hall for even-year November General Elections;
Whereas, The UMMA is a well-known landmark on the University of Michigan Campus accessible to students, other members of the campus community; and the general public;
Whereas, UMMA successfully served as a satellite city clerk office in 2020, receiving national attention for its innovative design, artistic elements, and accessibility to first-time student voters; and
Whereas, UMMA has asked the Clerk’s Office to participate in the “Feel Good Friday” event at the Museum on Friday, October 14, 2022 which has a focus on Democracy and Elections;
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council approves the following additional hours for the satellite city clerk office at the University of Michigan Museum of Art for the general election November 8, 2022, as recommended by the Ann Arbor City Clerk:
• Friday, October 14, 2022: 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
RESOLVED, That at least 30 days before the date of the election, the City Clerk shall post and notify the Secretary of State, concerning the additional hours that the clerk will be available to issue and receive absent voter ballots at the satellite offices; and
RESOLVED, That the City Clerk and City Administrator be authorized to take all other action necessary to implement this resolution.