VolumeVolume3 5 IssueNo.1Issue No. 1 SummerFall2011 2014 Election Day UPDATE - Summer 2014 My fellow residents of Detroit, on Tuesday, for us by learning about those you wish to August 5, 2014 a State Primary will be held vote for. To ensure that you are choosing to nominate candidates for Federal, State the right candidates to represent you, it is and Local ofces. Precinct Delegates to important to research them using the local the County Convention will also be on the newspapers, other forms of media and Janice M. Winfrey ballot, along with the proposals. online sources. Also attend and actively City Clerk participate in as many candidate forums as Precinct Delegates assist their political possible. You may even invite candidates to parties in “grass roots” voter education, Robin R. Underwood, CMC your block club and community meetings. Deputy City Clerk registration and Election Day mobilization Remember, knowledge is power. Wil Wesley in their elected precincts. They also serve Director of Elections as liaisons between the political party, Those who qualify may vote by absentee government and their constituents. City Clerk’s Ofce ballot at the Department of Elections through 200 Coleman A. Young Bldg. The “Election Connection” newsletter August 4th. Ofce hours are Monday - The Department of Elections has been mailed to each registered voter Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. On Monday, 2978 W. Grand Blvd. Administration household in Detroit to provide you with August 4th, you may vote by absentee in the (313) 876-9799 information concerning the Primary. Before ofce until 4:00 p.m. If you wish to have an going to the polls on Election Day, use the absentee ballot mailed to you, please contact sample ballot to select the candidates you the Absentee Voting Unit at (313) 876-0212. MAYOR OF DETROIT wish to vote for. Take your sample ballot Satellites at Wayne County Community Mike Duggan with your predetermined candidates to the College District’s Eastern and Northwest DETROIT CITY COUNCIL voting booth and transfer your choices to campuses will be open for absentee voting Brenda Jones the actual ballot that will be issued to you at Monday through Friday beginning Monday, President your polling precinct. July 21st through Monday, August 4th, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. George Cushingberry Jr. This is a very important Primary for our city President Pro-Tem and state. We must make democracy work Scott Benson Raquel Castaneda-Lopez Remember: Saunteel Jenkins • Refer to the political • When going to vote, • Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and Gabe Leland composition chart on the please be prepared to close at 8:00 p.m. Anyone back page to determine present photo ID. If you in line before the polls Mary Shefeld your respective districts, do not have photo ID, you close will be allowed to Andre Spivey voting precinct and must fll out and sign an vote. James Tate Election Day polling affdavit. location. For further information, please contact the Department of Elections at (313) 876-0190. Page 2 Summer 2014 Convicted Felons Do Have Voting Rights Tere have been several hear- MSA 6.1758(2). Election laws are 492a and 758 of the Michigan Law, says concerning convicted felons diferent in many states. Terefore, supra, respectively MCLA 168, 472a; and their right to vote. Tere has it may be true in some states that a MSA 6.1492(1) and MCLA 168.758; been misinformation or lack of criminal conviction of a felonious MSA.1758. information surrounding this issue. nature, may automatically terminate As a result, research was done an individual’s right to vote. Here You are now aware and with the aid of the City of Detroit in Michigan your voting right as a knowledgeable of the law. Clerk Law Department. Te purpose is citizen is still intact for those who Winfrey is therefore soliciting to help our readers understand or served time in prison afer felonious your involvement in helping to have frst-hand knowledge of how convictions. Even if the convicted disseminate the information and Michigan election law addressed person is on probation, (meaning that end the misinformation that past this burning question: he or she is not confned in prison) criminal convictions have shut the that person can vote in an election. doors to a person’s right to vote. The question is: Is there a Again, here in Michigan, your voting provision in Michigan Election Tose in jail awaiting arraignment right cannot be denied because of Law that allows those who have or trial also have the right to vote by past criminal convictions as long as past criminal convictions and absentee ballot, in compliance with you are not confned to prison. served time in prisons, the right the Michigan election law: O’Brien v to vote in an election? Skinner, 414 US 524; 94S Ct 740,38 L We will continue to do our best in Ed2D702 (1974) and Arlee v Wayne providing you with important facts In Michigan, convicted felons are County Sherif 55 Mich. App 340; 222 and valuable pieces of information restricted from “voting only while NW 2d 233 (1974) both to the efect regarding election administration, confned in prison”. (Michigan that persons confned in jail awaiting voting and the election laws because const. 1963, Art. 2, Sec. 2; 1954 trial cannot be deprived of the right your voting right is our business. PA 116, Sec. 758b; MCL 168.758b; to vote by absentee. See also section Summer 2014 Page 3 Write-In Candidates A write-in candidate is a prospective candidate whose name may not appear on the ballot as a result of missing the fling deadline. Te prospective candidate may fle to become an authorized write-in candidate; meaning that vot- ers who wish to vote for this candidate must write in his/her name on the write-in line provided on the ballot and also fll-in the oval beside the write-in line. To Cast A Write-In Vote, see ballot instructions. Primary Ballot Election Instructions TO VOTE: Completely darken the oval opposite each WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED VOTING: Place the choice as shown: ballot in the secrecy sleeve so that votes cannot be seen and the numbered stub is visible. Return the ballot to the IMPORTANT: To mark your ballot, use only a black or election ofcial stationed at the tabulator. (If voting by blue ink pen. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER INK COLOR! absentee ballot, follow the instructions provided by the clerk for returning the ballot.) PARTISAN SECTION: Tere are two party sections on the ballot: Republican Party and Democratic Party. NOTE: If you make a mistake, return your ballot to the Select the party section of your choice. YOU MAY VOTE election ofcial and obtain a new ballot. Do not attempt IN ONE PARTY SECTION ONLY; YOU CANNOT to erase or correct any marks made in error. “SPLIT YOUR TICKET.” IF YOU VOTE IN MORE THAN ONE PARTY SECTION, YOUR PARTISAN BALLOT WILL BE REJECTED. DO NOT vote for more candidates than indicated under each ofce title. WRITE-IN CANDIDATES: To vote for a candidate whose name is not printed on the ballot, write or place the name of the candidate in the blank space provided and completely darken the oval. Do not cast a write-in vote for a candidate whose name is already printed on the ballot for that ofce. CHECK BOTH SIDES OF BALLOT: Tis ballot has two sides. Be certain to check the reverse side of the ballot. Page 4 Summer 2014 A B C Official Ballot Primary Election Tuesday, August 5, 2014 Wayne County, Michigan City of Detroit PARTISAN SECTION NONPARTISAN SECTION VOTE ONLY 1 PARTY SECTION PROPOSAL SECTION REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATIC STATE PARTY PARTY SECTION SECTION PROPOSAL 14-1 APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF STATE STATE AMENDATORY ACT TO REDUCE STATE USE TAX AND REPLACE WITH GOVERNOR GOVERNOR A LOCAL COMMUNITY STABILIZATION Vote for not more than 1 Vote for not more than 1 SHARE TO MODERNIZE THE TAX SYSTEM TO HELP SMALL Rick Snyder Mark Schauer BUSINESSES GROW AND CREATE JOBS The amendatory act adopted by the CONGRESSIONAL CONGRESSIONAL Legislature would: UNITED STATES UNITED STATES 1. Reduce the state use tax and replace with a local community stabilization share SENATOR SENATOR of the tax for the purpose of modernizing Vote for not more than 1 Vote for not more than 1 the tax system to help small businesses grow and create jobs in Michigan. Terri Lynn Land Gary Peters 2. Require Local Community Stabilization Authority to provide revenue to local governments dedicated for local purposes, REPRESENTATIVE IN REPRESENTATIVE IN including police safety, fire protection, and CONGRESS CONGRESS ambulance emergency services. 14th DISTRICT 14th DISTRICT 3. Increase portion of state use tax Vote for not more than 1 Vote for not more than 1 dedicated for aid to local school districts. Christina Conyers Hansen Clarke 4. Prohibit Authority from increasing taxes. Burgess D. Foster 5. Prohibit total use tax rate from exceeding existing constitutional 6% LEGISLATIVE Rudy Hobbs limitation. Brenda Lawrence Should this law be approved? STATE SENATOR 1st DISTRICT YES Vote for not more than 1 LEGISLATIVE NO Barry Berk CITY STATE SENATOR 1st DISTRICT CITY OF DETROIT Vote for not more than 1 PROPOSAL L: LIBRARY OPERATING REPRESENTATIVE IN MILLAGE RENEWAL STATE LEGISLATURE Coleman Young Shall the tax limitation on taxable property 2nd DISTRICT for operating and maintaining the Detroit Vote for not more than 1 Public Libraries, be renewed for up to REPRESENTATIVE IN 3.9943 mills ($3.9943 on each $1000.00 of taxable value) for 10 years (July 1, 2015 to Daniel J.