HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2023.06.15 - 38321
June 15, 2023
RESOLUTION #2023-3026 _ 23-108
Sponsored By: Gary McGillivray
Board of Commissioners - Resolution Supporting Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s
Proposed FY 2024 Budget to Ensure Full Implementation of Proposal 2 and Address Historic
Disinvestment in Election Administration
Chair 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 November 2022, Michigan voters overwhelmingly supported Proposal 2, enshrining a
right to vote in the Michigan constitution, establishing a minimum of 9 days of early voting, creating a
permanent mailed ballot voter list, providing prepaid postage for mailed absentee ballot applications
and absentee ballots, and requiring a minimum of one drop box for every jurisdiction and at least one
drop box per every 15,000 registered voters in larger municipalities; and
WHEREAS elections should be treated as critical infrastructure; and
WHEREAS elections officials have been operating for years with insufficient budgets; and
WHEREAS on April 19th, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson proposed a $177 million
budget for FY 2024 to the House Elections Committee, Senate Elections and Ethics Committee,
House Appropriations Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee, Speaker of the House Joe Tate
and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks; and
WHEREAS the proposed FY 2024 budget covers the necessary expenses for successful
implementation of Proposal 2, addresses historic disinvestment in elections and recognizes election
administration as critical infrastructure; and
WHEREAS the Secretary of State and clerks have emphasized that successful implementation of
Proposal 2 will require a significant increase in resources for election officials to provide the training,
transparency, audits, and other procedures that ensure the integrity of our elections and protect
access to the ballot for all Michigan voters.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners calls on
the Michigan State Legislature to support Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s proposed FY 2024
budget and commit to sufficient funding of Michigan elections.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Oakland County Board of Commissioners supports a state funding
plan that encourages and rewards those municipalities that choose a collaborative approach to early
voting over those that operate independently. A collaborative approach will save financial resources
and provide for a more consistent voter experience across the state and county.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to
forward copies of this adopted resolution to the Governor of the State of Michigan, the State Senate
Majority and Minority leaders, the State House Speaker and Minority leader, the members of the
Oakland County delegation to the Michigan Legislature, and the Board of Commissioner’s legislative
lobbyist.
Chair, the following Commissioners are sponsoring the foregoing Resolution: Gary McGillivray.
Date: June 15, 2023
David Woodward, Commissioner
Date: June 16, 2023
Lisa Brown, County Clerk / Register of Deeds
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2023-06-06 Legislative Affairs & Government Operations - Recommend to Board
2023-06-15 Full Board - Adopt
Motioned by Commissioner Brendan Johnson seconded by Commissioner Angela Powell to adopt
the attached Resolution: Resolution Supporting Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s Proposed FY
2024 Budget to Ensure Full Implementation of Proposal 2 and Address Historic Disinvestment in
Election Administration .
Yes: David Woodward, Michael Spisz, Penny Luebs, Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson, Robert
Hoffman, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Marcia Gershenson, Janet Jackson, William Miller III,
Yolanda Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Brendan Johnson (14)
No: Michael Gingell, Christine Long, Philip Weipert (3)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: Ajay Raman, Gary McGillivray (2)
Passed
ATTACHMENTS
None
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
15, 2023, 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 on Thursday, June 15, 2023.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County Clerk / Register of Deeds