HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2020.06.25 - 33348REPORT (MISC. #20172) June 25, 2020
BY: Commissioner David T. Woodward, Chairperson, Pandemic Response and Economic Recovery
Committee
IN RE: MR #20172 - BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — ENCOURAGE OAKLAND COUNTY VOTERS
TO VOTE BY MAIL IN 2020 AUGUST PRIMARY AND NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTIONS AND
DECLARE SUPPORT FOR MICHIGAN SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON'S ACTION TO
MAIL OUT ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS TO ALL MICHIGAN REGISTERED VOTERS
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Pandemic Response and Economic Recovery Committee, having reviewed the above -referenced
resolution on June 22, 2020, reports to recommend adoption of the resolution with the following
amendment(s):
Remove the 3rd WHEREAS paragraph, as follows:
W#E-REAS- Oakland -Geuntyathe4ghest4w4!n se" Guaty+n-M[Ghigan-and
Chairperson, on behalf of the Pandemic Response
acceptance of the foregoing report.
and Ec is Recovery Co ittee, I e the
Commissioner David T. Woodward, District #19
Chairperson, Pandemic Response and
Economic Recovery Committee
PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY COMMITTEE VOTE:
Motion carried on a roll call vote with Spisz, Taub and Kuhn voting no and Miller absent.
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #20172
BY: Commissioner Marcia Gershenson, District #13
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — ENCOURAGE OAKLAND COUNTY VOTERS TO VOTE BY
MAIL IN 2020 AUGUST PRIMARY AND NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTIONS AND DECLARE
SUPPORT FOR MICHIGAN SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON'S ACTION TO MAIL OUT
ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS TO ALL MICHIGAN REGISTERED VOTERS
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the nation and Oakland County is in the midst of a pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus
known as COVID-19; and
WHEREAS the United States is the country with the most recorded cases of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS Oakland County has the highest number of cases of any county in Michigan; and
WHEREAS the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,
proposed a number of recommendations in preparation for future elections including: encourage mail-in
methods of voting if allowed in the jurisdiction and early voting; and
WHEREAS the COVID-19 pandemic requires all communities to take precautionary measures to protect
voters, election poll workers and volunteers, while preserving democracy and making voting as easy and
safe in upcoming elections; and
WHEREAS early voting, absentee voting and mail-in voting ballots have all increased in the last 20 years;
and
WHEREAS as of now, five states use vote-by-mail as their primary way of voting: Oregon, Washington,
Colorado, Utah and Hawaii; and
WHEREAS furthermore, those serving in the military rely on mail-in absentee voting for those deployed
overseas; and
WHEREAS in 2018, one in four Americans who cast a ballot did so through the mail; and
WHEREAS Americans should not have to choose between their health and casting a ballot; and
WHEREAS in the May 2020 elections in Michigan, all voters were sent an absentee ballot application; and
WHEREAS the May 2020 election, saw record turnout which was nearly twice as big as any prior May
election - 99% of all voters casted absentee ballots; and
WHEREAS on May 19, 2020, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, announced that
the state will send an absentee application to each Michigan registered voter for the August Primary and
November Elections in 2020; and
WHEREAS Benson explained that her decision was based on safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, for
voters, clerks and volunteers; and
WHEREAS Republican Secretaries of State in Kentucky, West Virginia and Georgia have all turned to mail
voting systems to keep residents safe; and
WHEREAS in Michigan, mailing absentee ballot applications ensures that no Michigander must choose
between their health and their right to vote; and
WHEREAS because voters in Michigan approved Proposition 3 in 2018, with Oakland County voters
approving it with 65%, every Michigander has the right to cast an absentee ballot; and
WHEREAS voting by mail is easy, convenient, safe, and secure; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT REOLVED for public health and safety considerations in response to COVID-19
in upcoming elections in 2020, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages voters to vote by
mail.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Oakland County Board of Commissioners supports Michigan Secretary
of State Joselyn Benson's action to mail applications for absentee ballots to all registered voters.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Oakland County Clerk is directed to forward a copy of this resolution to
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, all local clerks in Oakland County, the
State Senate Majority and Minority leaders, the State House Speaker and Minority leader, members of the
Oakland County State Legislature delegation.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolu io
Commissioner Marfa Gershenson
District #13
Resolution #20172
May 28, 2020
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Pandemic Response and Economic Recovery Committee.
There were no objections
Resolution #20172 June 25, 2020
Moved by Gershenson seconded by Jackson the resolution be adopted.
Discussion followed.
Moved by Gershenson seconded by Jackson the Pandemic Response and Economic Recovery Committee
Report be accepted.
AYES: Miller, Nelson, Powell, Quarles, Spisz, Weipert, Woodward, Zack, Gershenson, Hoffman,
Jackson, Kochenderter, Kowall, Kuhn, Luebs, Markham, McGillivray (17)
NAYS: Taub, Gingell, Middleton. (3)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the report was accepted.
Discussion followed.
Moved by Taub seconded by Gingell the resolution be amended as follows:
Amend the title as follow:
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — ENCOURAGE OAKLAND COUNTY VOTERS TO VOTE BY MAIL
IN 2020 AUGUST PRIMARY AMID NOVEMBER. GENERAL ELECTIONS AND ncrl ARE SUPPORT -
FOR MICHIGAN SECRETARY OF STATE IQGE VN BENSONS ACTIolw T(1 <,4411 Ill IT
ARSFNTCC RAI 10T ADDI rr WICN.0— `--ALIL MICHIGAN `AN REGISTERED Vl1TERS
Amend following language in the 13th WHEREAS as follow
WHEREAS on May 19, 2020, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson,a DeFracrat, announced
that the state will send an absentee application to each Michigan registered voter for the August
Primary and November Elections in 2020; and
Amend following language in the 15th WHEREAS as follow:
WHEREASSecretaries of State in Kentucky, West Virginia and Georgia have all turned to
mail voting systems to keep residents safe; and
Discussion followed.
Vote on amendment:
AYES Spisz, Taub, Weipert, Gingell, Hoffman, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Middleton. (9)
NAYS: Nelson, Powell, Quarles, Woodward, Zack, Gershenson, Jackson, Luebs, Markham,
McGillivray, Miller. (11)
A sufficient majority not having voted in favor, the amendment failed.
Moved by Gingell the resolution be amended as follows:
Insert the following language after the 18t BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners rescinds its
previous action approving Voting Day as a County Holiday and providing the day off at the cost
to the taxpayers now that all voters have received the opportunity to vote absentee with no
reason and substitute Voting Day with Juneteenth as a County Holiday.
Chairperson David Woodward ruled the amendment not germane to the resolution on the floor.
Moved by Gingell seconded by Kowall to overturn the ruling of the Chairperson.
Vote on motion to overturn the ruling:
AYES Spisz, Taub, Weipert, Gingell, Hoffman, Kochenderter, Kowall, Kuhn, Middleton. (9)
NAYS: Powell, Quarles, Woodward, Zack, Gershenson, Jackson, Luebs, Markham, McGillivray,
Miller, Nelson. (11)
A sufficient majority not having voted in favor, the motion to overturn the ruling of the Chairperson failed.
Discussion followed.
Moved by Taub seconded by Gingell the resolution be amended as follows.
Strike all political parties from the resolution.
Discussion followed.
Vote on amendment:
AYES Spisz, Taub, Weipert, Gingell, Hoffman, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Middleton. (9)
NAYS: Quarles, Woodward, Zack, Gershenson, Jackson, Luebs, Markham, McGillivray, Miller,
Nelson, Powell. (11)
A sufficient majority not having voted in favor, the amendment failed.
Vote on resolution, as presented:
AYES: Woodward, Zack, Gershenson, Jackson, Luebs, Markham, McGillivray, Miller, Nelson,
Powell, Quarles. (11)
NAYS: Spisz, Taub, Gingell, Hoffman, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Middleton. (8)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution, as presented, was adopted.
4�ow aL
I HEREBY APPROVE THIS nESOLUTION
CHIEF DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE
ACTING PURSUANT TO MCL 45.558A (7)
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on June 25, 2020,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan this 25th day of June, 2020.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County