HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2009.11.12 - 9883REPORT November 12, 2009
BY: GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE — Christine Long, Chairperson
RE: MR #09231 — BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SUPPORT FOR IVI1CHIGAN HOUSE BILL
5279 TO STREAMLINE ABSENTEE VOTING TO PROTECT THE VOTE FOR OVERSEAS
MILITARY PERSONNEL
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The General Government Committee, having considered the above titled resolution on
November 2, 2009. recommends that the resolution be adopted.
Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I move the acceptance of the
foregoing report.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Potter absent.
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION /09231
BY: Commissioners Shelley G. Taub, District #16 and Janet Jackson, District
#21
IN RE: Board of Commissioners — Support for Michigan House Bill 5279 to
Streamline Absentee Voting to Protect the Vote for Overseas Military
Personnel
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS: the highly respected, non-partisan Pew Center on the States named
Michigan as one of 16 states failing its overseas troops by not allowing enough
time for military personnel to return their votes to Michigan in time to be counted,
and
WHEREAS: the study found that the majority of AV ballots requested by our
overseas military never make it home in time to be counted, largely due to
overseas mailing delays, and
WHEREAS: these are men and women who are overseas, away from their
families and often risking their lives to protect our freedom. Michigan must take
action to ensure their right to vote is protected here at home, and
WHEREAS: federal legislation has been introduced designed to streamline the
overseas military system, but it is unclear whether that legislation will move
forward, and
WHEREAS: Michigan owes it to our military men and women to take action now
to implement common-sense changes that will safeguard their vote, with the full
expectation that any improvements Michigan makes to the military voting system
will help ensure the state is compliant should any new, federal guidelines be
enacted in the future. and
WHEREAS: in response to the Pew Center report, Oakland County Clerk Ruth
Johnson, Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh and Wayne County Clerk
Cathy Garrett created OPERATION: OUR TROOPS COUNT earlier this year to
push for changes that will ensure the votes of overseas military personnel are
counted on Election Day and began working with State Representative Vince
Gregory on legislation to remedy mailing delays. and
WHEREAS Al the county clerks' request, State Rep. Vince Gregory introduced
House Bill 5279 in August 2009 which would allow Michigan clerks to email/fax
blank absentee ballots to overseas voters, streamlining the military voting
system, reducing mailing time and postage costs, and
WHEREAS more than 30 other states across the nation already allow this
practice with appropriate safeguards and integrity built into the system.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners supports the brave men and women, who are stationed overseas
to defend our country and to preserve freedom in foreign lands, and believe
Michigan must provide them with every opportunity to exercise their basic
democratic right to vote.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County board of Commissioners
hereby urges the Michigan State Legislature to adopt House Bill 5279 that will
allow state election officials to make blank ballots available by email fax or other
electronic means to overseas voters.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
urges the Michigan State Legislature to adopt legislation that provides for a
secure environment that protects the secrecy of the ballot, yet allows for the
completed ballots of military personnel who are stationed overseas to be counted
on Election Day.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk is requested to
forward copies of this adopted resolution to Michigan Secretary of State Terri
Lynn Land, the Oakland County delegation to the Michigan Legislature, Oakland
County's lobbyists and the Michigan Association of Counties.
Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
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Resolution #09231 September 24, 2009
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee, There were no
objections,
Resolution #09231 November 12, 2009
Moved by Middleton supported by Gershenson the resolutions (with fiscal notes attached) on the
amended Consent Agenda be adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted).
AYES: Cabello. Coulter, Douglas, Gershensen, Gingell, Gosselin, Greimei, Hatchett, Jackson,
Jacobsen, Long, McGillivray, Middleton, Nash, Potter. Potts, Runestad, Schwartz, Scott, Taub,
Woodward. Zack, Bullard, Burns. (24)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolutions (with fiscal notes attached) on the amended
Consent Agenda were adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted).
OM Vela CoU CLIME R pm
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I. Ruth Johnson, 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 November
12, 2009. 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 County of Oakland at
Pontiac, Michigan this 12th day of November, 2009.
Gat
Ruth Johnson, County Clerk