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PEG 12th Congressional District Newsletter 289
Thursday, November 3, 2022
4 Days until Midterm Elections on Tuesday, November 8
Tell your friends to take their absentee ballot to their clerk or dropbox NOW
See which of your friends and family received an absentee ballot that their clerk hasn’t gotten back by going to BallotPower.org and entering their name. To learn more about this amazingly effective and easy way to see your candidates win and propositions get approved, attend one of our Voter Turnout Trainings on Thursday or Friday. Register to receive a selection of sessions you can attend at https://distillsocial.com/events/voter-turnout-training/
Join Chuck at one of his brief, 30-minute (max) zoom sessions and he’ll show you how easy it is to find which of your friend’s clerks haven’t received their ballot and where your friend can take them. This is the easiest and most effective thing you can do to see that your candidates win and propositions passed.
If you have not dropped off your absentee ballot, Take your ballot to your clerk or their clerk’s dropboxes. Do not mail them.
More things to do, read, and watch before Election Day
Pre-Processing Observers Needed! Training still going on until Election Day!
Help monitor absentee ballot pre-processing activities prior to Election Day this year. In light of strong GOP and “Big Lie” scrutiny of this process, we are taking nothing for granted and intend to keep a watchful eye throughout. Click the button to complete the 2022 General Election Absentee Ballot Pre-Processing Observer Availability Form.
Do you know where your Ballot Dropbox is??
With Election Day only a few days away, the best way to insure your ballot is received by 8 PM on that day is by delivering it to your city/township clerk’s office or dropbox. Do you know where your dropbox is??
Ballots should be deposited in the city or township where you live. There is an excellent website here with pictures of every Ballot Dropbox in Washtenaw County. Along with the pictures, there is additional valuable information, such as:
- Clerk’s name, office address, contact information and office hoursAdditional sites for voting/registration
- Office hours for registration or change of address prior to Election
- Additional information, e.g., deadlines for requesting an absentee ballot, deadlines to register to vote, etc. Other information might include when there is Election Day Line Tracker so you can check the number of people waiting in line to vote. Note that Sylvan Township indicates the Google Maps shows an incorrect location; need to Google “Sylvan Township Hall.”
The Michigan Secretary of State’s office has a Voter Information Center with extension information here. Included is a site to track your absentee ballot. And head to “Registering to Vote with 14 Days of Election” if you have not yet registered.
Michigan Voter Information Center here at https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/
Voting while Homeless in Michigan
No one plans to be homeless, but we are in a housing crisis and…sh%t happens! You, your voice and vote are still important. Major Elections and decisions that all of us are impacted by are often decided by one vote, or a few votes. If you or someone you know is currently experiencing homelessness, please know that ALL United States citizens who will be at least 18 years old by Elections Day are eligible and encouraged to vote. All of our voices and perspectives contribute to a functioning democracy. Like all voters, you must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old by Election Day to do so. It’s just three easy steps:
Register to Vote
You can still register to vote and cast a ballot in elections, even without an ID. If you don’t have a home, you can register to vote by listing a street corner, shelter, park or any other place you usually stay as your address. The address can also be a local shelter, outreach center, advocacy organization or someone who will accept mail for you. You can go and register at your local county, city or township clerk’s office or at any state agency that provides public assistance or services to people with disabilities. Because we are within 14 days of the election, you must go to your city or township clerk’s office to register and prove you live in Michigan. You can register right up until 8 p.m. on Election Day there and vote. Within 14 days of an election, you should bring a letter from a shelter, church, or public assistance agency you interact with that states you live in Michigan and your name. Or if you have a state ID card or driver’s license, you can bring that as proof of residency.
Voting options
Once you have registered to vote, you can vote in person at your polling place on Election Day. You can vote early by going to your city or township clerk’s office and requesting an absent voter ballot from your clerk. They will have you fill out and sign an application. If you have a state ID or license and internet access, you can request an absentee ballot online at Michigan.gov/Vote until November 4. Since we are so close to election day, your clerk will provide it to you in person. You can complete it when you are ready, sign the envelope and return it. To return it, you can put it in your clerk’s drop box if they have one, take it back to their office or mail it back. If you are going to mail it, be sure to get it in the mail as soon as possible and no later than two weeks before Election Day.
Voter ID
When you go to the polls, you will be asked to produce photo identification. If you do not have photo ID, you can still vote. All you will have to do is sign a brief statement that you are not in possession of photo ID. Your ballot will be included with all the others. If someone tells you that you can’t register to vote or you can’t vote, you can contact the ACLU or the Secretary of State to report it. The number of the Department of State is 888-SOS-MICH.
Don’t forget to Vote “down ballot” for nonpartisan races!
Two recent forums highlighted what is at stake when it comes to the judicial races at the Washtenaw County Circuit and District Court Level, as well as for the Michigan Supreme Court. Read more on page 4 of the November edition of the Washtenaw Jewish News. To watch local nonpartisan forums, visit the League of Women Voters of Washtenaw County YouTube Channel for their Candidate Forums.
Download and share these informative graphics!
Kudos to the Calhoun County Dems (Prop 3) and the Ann Arbor Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Prop 2) for these easy-to-share infographics for Instagram, email, or wherever you like to share information online.
Election Day and Post-Election Information
Keeping Elections Safe and Fair
from our friends at the Liberal Leadership League
Michigan elections are secure, accurate, and fair. Here is information about voting security and factual information so all Michiganders can have faith in our elections.
https://www.michigan.gov/sos/elections/security
https://www.michigan.gov/sos/faqs/elections-and-campaign-finance/fact-checks
COMBATING MISINFORMATION OR DISRUPTION TO VOTING
If you notice misinformation or see anyone committing voter intimidation, notify an election worker, send an email to misinformation@michigan.gov or call the nonpartisan voter protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE. (866-687-8683)
VOTER INTIMIDATION
Voter intimidation is against the law. Help protect our elections by reporting any voter intimidation, harassment, or coercion you witness. Notify an election worker or call the nonpartisan voter protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.
POLLING LOCATION INTIMIDATION
Election Day Polling Location Intimidation is a FELONY punishable by 5 Years in State Prison! If you see anyone committing voter intimidation, send an e-mail to misinformation@michigan.gov or call the voter protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE. (866-687-8683)
Keep this Voter Protection Hotline Number Handy
How the Associated Press counts the vote on election night
The U.S. doesn’t have a government agency that tells the nation who’s won an election right away. Every state has its own process for counting votes, and news organizations play a key role. Learn more HERE. –Associated Press
Why election results may not be known right away
Unlike in many countries, elections in the U.S. are highly decentralized, complex and feature long lists of races, from president and Congress all the way down to local measures and town council seats. Some states give local election offices several weeks before Election Day to process mailed ballots, including checking signatures and verifying ID information. In other states, that process can’t start until Election Day or shortly before, meaning those ballots might not get counted until the next day or even later. Learn more HERE. –Associated Press
The Washtenaw County Clerk’s webpage enumerates in detail the elections, proposals and candidates to date. A few of the important remaining dates are listed below.
November 8 – State General Election
To vote absentee, a request must be received no later than 5 pm the Friday before the election. The ballot must then be returned by 8 pm on Election Day.
What are the voting deadlines?
- Today through 8 pm on November 8: In-person registration with local clerk with proof of residency. (168.497)
- November 4: Last day to request an absentee ballot (by 5pm)
- November 7: Last day to pick up an absentee ballot at the clerk’s office
Visit EqualityInGov.org
A special thanks to our newsletter contributors: Ellen Halter, Leslie McGraw, Leslie Kamil, Lisa Kamil, Richard Gaeth, Bette Cotzin, Bernie Banet, and Chuck Newman for their contributions and help preparing our newsletters. PEG is a (somewhat) non-partisan volunteer organization whose mission is to assure that our government will treat all Americans with equality and acceptance. PEG’s work is primarily done by recruiting, educating and nurturing supporters for worthy organizations, actions and events that reflect our beliefs. To subscribe to this free weekly newsletter, go to our sign up form by clicking here.
