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 voter...
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