Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2009.09.24 - 9991MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION 109231 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 Commiss!oners 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 Cierk 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 At 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 Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution. Shelley G. Ta District #16 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. miSsioner District ommissioner District Commissioner Commftstioner IDI/1 ..strict # Commissioner District L7/14 issip.i4er District #..) Commissioner District Commisgioner District * etimmissioner': . . Distnct issioner rS trict # ---- Commissioner District , Commissioner I? `771(}v1-6H Commissioner District Commissio6er District 1* District It District It bra Commissioner District Commissioner District It CommisOpfier District k•• JCILI / _1 i ii Commissioner District* j 2 ,2 A Commissioner District * Commissioner District * Resolution #09231 September 24, 2009 The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.