HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2005.03.23 - 27925MISCELLANIOUS RESOLUTION #05070
By: Commissioner Jim Nash, District #15
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION TO ALLOW
EARLY VOTING IN MICHIGAN
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the United States was founded upon the principle of self-government in which the
right to vote is viewed as the most important and fundamental right of the people; and
WHEREAS one of the core democratic values of any democracy is the belief that the citizens
will have a greater satisfaction with the decisions being made by the political process if they
participate in the election process; and
WHEREAS greater opportunities for voters to participate in the electoral process through "early
voting" are seen as reasonable methods to enhance voter participation; and
WHEREAS it was reported in 2004, that 31 states already offer voters the chance to cast ballots
in person two weeks or more before Election Day, or significantly reduced the restrictions on
absentee voting; and
WHEREAS the number of people taking advantage of the early voting option in the 2004
election was up substantially. Preliminary figures compiled by the National Association of
Secretaries of State show early voting was especially popular in Florida, where 2 million people
voted early, up from about 720,000 in 2000, and
WHEREAS the concept of early voting has bi-partisan support among City and municipal
Clerks, Michigan's Secretary of State and many local officials, and is considered by many Clerks
as saving money for our hard-hit while expanding voter turnout and increasing voter
convenience; and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners has historically sought to simplify
and make more convenient our citizens' relations and interaction with government, and this
would bring that philosophy to the voting booth; and
WHEREAS there is legislation pending in Lansing to amend Public Act 116 of 1954, to permit
early voting beginning 14 days prior to each election and ending the day before the election and
that this legislation proposes that every city, village and township provide an Early Voting
polling place as designated by their local clerk.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
hereby supports the concept of early voting as expressed in current legislation and urges the
Michigan State Legislature to adopt legislation that provides for early voting beginning 14 days
before each election in Michigan.
Commissioner
District # 5--
missioner Jim Nash
ict #15
Commissioner
District # Zt
Commissioner
District # c701.
Commissioner
District #
.N)J7t.
Commissioner
7
District
animissioner
District # o
CoMmission
ct # f3±1
4041(7
ommissioner
Districyf #
Comrhissioner
District # (4
7
5444.et4,--ei
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District 4
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District 4
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk forward copies of the adopted
resolution to Governor Jennifer Granholm, the House Committee on Oversight, Ethics and
Elections, the Oakland County delegation to the state legislature, Michigan Association of
Counties and Oakland County's legislative lobbyists.
Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
Resolution #05070 March 24, 2005
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.