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COUNTY MICHIGAN
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
September 29, 2021
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #21-355
Sponsored By: Marcia Gershenson
IN RE: Opposition to Restrict the Right to Vote
Chairperson and Members of the Board:
WHEREAS free and fair access to voting and participation in our democracy is fundamental to creating an
equitable system of governance; and
WHEREAS in 2018, nearly 67% of the Michigan electorate voted to increase access to voting by approving the
Promote the Vote Proposal 3 ballot initiative. This initiative made it easier for people to vote with a variety of
measures, including early voting through no -reason absentee voting; and
WHEREAS despite the electorate malting their voices heard in 2018 in support of increased access to voting,
dozens of bills over the past several months to restrict voting have been introduced in the Michigan Legislature,
making election administration less equitable and efficient, and undermining existing laws that keep Michigan
elections safe and secure; and
WHEREAS restricting voting rights and harming election administration is damaging to all communities and
disproportionately harms communities of color and lower -income communities; and
WHEREAS members of minority and low-income communities tend to have lower voter turnout due to polling
locations not being placed near an accessible location (such as within a minority community or near public
transit), and the inability to obtain an ID due to cost. Additionally, lack of access to translated voting materials
has resulted in lower voter turnout, which has increased when translated materials were provided; and
WHEREAS researchers have found increased access to ballot drop boxes, which are often more secure than the
average blue postal box by being subject to video or in -person surveillance, were highly effective in promoting
increased voter turnout in communities across Michigan in 2020; and
WHEREAS there are a number of benefits to increasing access to voting and allowing early voting such as
early identification and correction of registration errors and voting system glitches, shorter lines and wait times
on Election Day, reduced burdens on Election Day poll workers resulting in improved poll worker performance,
reduced stress on the voting system on Election Day, greater access to voting and increased voter satisfaction,
and expanding the electorate through increased voter turnout; and
WHEREAS some form of early voting already exists in two-thirds of states; and
WHEREAS election officials and voting advocates have testified to the desire for access to ballot drop boxes,
and early voting period of at least two weeps, the need for more time for preprocessing of ballots, the need for
improved poll worker recruitment programs, and the need for sufficient funding of elections; and
WHEREAS the Board of Commissioners supports an increase in ballot drop box availability, implementing an
early voting period of at least two weeks, allowing for two weeks of preprocessing of ballots, making it easier
for clerks to recruit poll workers, and sufficiently finding Michigan elections.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners stands in
opposition to restrict the right to vote.
Chairperson, the following Commissioners are sponsoring the foregoing Resolution: Marcia Gershenson.
Date: October 07. 2021
Lisa Brown, County Clerk / Register of Deeds
COMM[TTEE TRACKING
2021-09-02 Full Board - introduce and refer to Connnittee
2021-09-14 Legislative Affairs & Government Operations - recommend to Board
2021-09-29 Full Board
VOTE TRACKING
Motioned by Commissioner Kristen Nelson seconded by Commissioner Marcia Gershenson to adopt the
attached Resolution: Opposition to Restrict the Right to Vote.
Yes: David Woodward, Kristen Nelson, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Marcia Gershenson, William
Miller 111, Yolanda Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Penny Luebs, Janet Jackson, Gary McGillivray (11)
No: Michael Gingell, Michael Spisz, Karen Joliat, Eileen Kowall, Christine Long, Philip Weipert, Thomas
Kuhn, Charles Moss, Robert Hoffman (9)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: (0)
The Motion Passed.
ATTACHMENTS
None
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
1, 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 September 29, 2021,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, J have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan on Wednesday, September 29, 2021.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County Clerk /Register of Deeds