ELECTIONS/VOTING INFORMATION
The County Clerk is responsible for preparing and proofreading the ballots for elections held in Montmorency County. The clerk/office staff is available on election nights to receive and tally the unofficial totals and then file with the State the certified election results after the Board of Canvassers has certified the election.
The County Clerk directs recall and recount activities in the county and is responsible for precinct election worker training.
Nominating petitions and campaign finance materials can be obtained from the Clerk's office for citizens who wish to run for a public office. The filing of petitions and campaign finance reports are filed in compliance with the state. For more information on elections see the State website .
POLLING PLACES IN MONTMORENCY COUNTY
Albert Township--Judy Athan, Township Clerk, 989-786-2513, Albert Township Hall, 4360 Hansen, Lewiston, MI 49756
Avery Township--Ann M. Seymour, Township Clerk, 989-785-3929, Avery Township Hall ( 989-785-3278), 11010 McMurphy Rd. Atlanta, MI. 49709
Briley Township--James A. Sipe, Township Clerk, 989-785-4050, Briley Township Hall, 11331 West St., Atlanta, MI 49709
Hillman Township--Pamela J. Achatz, Township Clerk, 989-742-4558, Hillman Township Hall (989-742-3096), 24220 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Hillman, MI. 49746
Loud Township--Lawrence J. Pascador, Township Clerk, 989-785-2221, Loud Township Hall (989-785-3263) , 3910 M-33 Atlanta, MI. 49709
Montmorency Township--Connie Brandt, Township Clerk, 989-742-3619
- Precinct 1--Montmorency Township Hall, 20841 N. Co. Rd. 459 Hillman, MI. 49746;
- Precinct 2--Canada Creek Ranch House, 989-785-4201 , 23500 Ranch House Trail, Atlanta, MI. 49709
Rust Township--Carleen Klein, Township Clerk, 989-742-3475, Rust Township Hall (989-742-3535), 23390 Cohoon Rd. Hillman, MI. 49746
Vienna Township--Elaine Dixon, Township Clerk, 989-786-3160, Vienna Township Hall (989-786-2884) , 2734 M-32 Johannesburg, MI. 49751
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between a primary and general election? A primary election is held by the political parties to select their nominees for the offices to be elected at the general election. In a primary, Republicans run against Republicans, and Democrats run against other Democrats. In a primary, you can vote for only one party (no split ticket). A general election is between party nominees and any candidates without political party affiliation; the general election determines which candidate will occupy the office that is up for election. Statewide ballot proposals also appear on the general election ballot.
Who may register to vote? A U.S. citizen, at least eighteen (18) years old by Election Day and a resident of Michigan and the city or township where applying to vote.
When do I need to register by? You may register at any time, but to vote in an upcoming election, you must be registered at least thirty (30) days prior to the election.
Do I have to register for each election? No, as long as you continue to reside in the city or township that you are registered in, your registration is permanent.
Where can I register? At any Secretary of State branch office, your city or township clerk's office, the County Clerk's office, any Department of Human Services office, at a specified District Health office or by mail.
What happens if I move? You should immediately notify the clerk of your city or township of your new residence if you move within your city or township of residence. If you move outside of your city or township, you must re-register at your new address.
ABSENTEE VOTING
When can I vote by absentee ballot? You can vote by an absentee ballot if you are sixty (60) years of age or more, expect to be absent from the community in which you are a registered voter for the entire time the polls are open, unable to go to the polls because of religious beliefs, are confined to jail or prison awaiting arraignment or trial, or have been appointed as an election inspector in a precinct other than where you are registered to vote. You can also receive an absentee ballot if you are unable to get to the polls without the assistance of another person.
How do I receive an absentee ballot? You can obtain an absent voter ballot by writing to the clerk of the city or township in which you are a registered voter. You must include in your request: Your name, the date of the election, the address where you are registered, the reason why you are requesting an absentee ballot and the address where to send the ballot (this must be your registration address, an address outside of your jurisdiction, a hospital or some other residential institution). Be sure to include your signature and date. Members of the armed forces and military dependents, and U.S. citizens temporarily living outside of the U.S. may use a Federal Post Card Application to obtain an absent voter ballot. See this link for instructions.
What is the application deadline to receive an absentee ballot? The latest to apply for an absentee ballot is on the Saturday preceding the election and returned no later than 8:00 P.M. on election day to the city or township clerk's office.
GENERAL ELECTION DAY VOTING QUESTIONS
Where do I vote? Your voter ID card will list the polling place or you may call your city, township or county clerk. Or check online at Michigan.gov/vote
When are the polls open? The polls are opened from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Election Day.
How do I vote?
May I receive assistance when voting? Yes, any elector may request voting assistance from the precinct worker without stating a reason. Two precinct workers (1 from each political party) will assist you. If you need assistance because you are blind, disabled, or unable to read or write, anyone (except your employer, an agent of your employer or an officer or agent of your union) can give you assistance.
May I take campaign literature into the polling place? Yes, as long as the articles are for your personal use and you do not distribute or display them to others, be sure not to leave any material in the polling place.
Is campaigning allowed on Election Day? Yes, as long as it is done at least 100 feet from any door used by voters to enter or exit the building in which the polls are located.
ELECTION WEB SITES: Michigan.gov/vote (View ballots, Get a map showing polling locations, Check voter registration status, Locate the address of your local County Clerk's Office); Michigan Secretary of State ( Michigan voter registration application, Secretary of State Voter Information Center, Help America Vote Act (HAVA), Election results, Other information regarding elections in Michigan)
RECALL INFORMATION:
OFFICERS SUBJECT TO RECALL: All elective officers in the state, except judicial officers, are subject to recall by the voters of their respective districts. An officer who is being recalled may continue to perform the duties of his/her office until the result of the recall election is certified (168.951).
CIRCULATING RECALL PETITION FORMS: The following is a summary of the laws, court rulings and Attorney General Opinion which govern the circulation of recall petitions for county offices, city offices and township offices.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- An officeholder may not be recalled during the first six (6) months or the last six (6) months of his or her term of office. (168.951).
- The wording submitted for review at a clarity hearing must be based upon the officer's conduct during his or her current term of office.
- All recall reasons submitted must be of sufficient clarity to be approved.
- Recall petitions should not be circulated prior to the clarity hearing.
- Recall petitions filed more than 180 days after the clarity hearing are invalid.
- Signatures on recall petitions must not be more than 90 days old at the time the petitions are filed at the county clerk's office. (168.961)
- A signature is acceptable if it includes the signer's name, the signer's street address, the zip code of the post office which serves the signer's residence and a proper date. THIS INFORMATION MUST BE IN THE SIGNER'S OWN HANDWRITING.
- Each signer must affix his or her signature to a petition sheet which bears in the heading of the sheet the name of the city or township and county in which the signer is registered to vote.
- The heading of the petition sheet may not list more than one city or township.
- A signature is invalid if the signer is not registered to vote in Montmorency County or is registered to vote in the county but not in the city or township listed in the heading of the petition sheet.
- The circulator may not leave a recall petition unattended in a public place; all signatures must be signed in the presence of the circulator. (168.957)
- Each petition must only be circulated by the person who signs as the circulator. (168.957)
- The number of signatures needed to recall an officer is 25% of the votes cast in the officer's district for all candidates for the Election of the Governor at the last November general election. (168.955)
ATTENTION TO DETAIL ADVISED-- The headings on recall petition sheets should match the recall wording exactly as it was approved at the recall clarity hearing and must conform to the specifications prescribed by the Secretary of State. (168.952a) Petitions cannot be circulated prior to the wording approval at a clarity hearing. Petition sheets and signatures found to be invalid cannot be corrected through the submission of affidavits, registration records or additional petition signatures. The information in this description is offered as a summary of the provisions which govern the validity of recall petition signatures; it is not a complete interpretation of the governing laws.
For more information call the Montmorency County Clerk's office at (989) 785-8022. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 A.M. -12:00 P.M. and 1:00-4:30 P.M. Closed all legal holidays.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 8:38 PM