By Jerilyn Jordan
Beacon Correspondent
Alger County Clerk and Register of Deeds Joel VandeVelde said he still gets nervous come election time.
“[Voting] is a very important thing,” VandeVelde said. “Tensions get real high real fast when it comes to voting machines and how you feel about electronic tabulation, to voting by mail with absentee ballots.”
But one of his biggest concerns ahead of the upcoming primary in August is adjusting to change.
“I’m jumping in between the concerns of some voters and clerks themselves. First, there was straight party voting, then there wasn’t. Now it’s back on,” he said, referring to Michigan Constitutional Proposal 18-3, which also allows qualified voters automatic voter registry when updating or applying for a driver license or state-issued ID and no-questions-asked absentee ballot requests.
“They’re a moving target … an ever-growing animal,” he said of elections.
What VandeVelde is most concerned about is making sure voters know what to expect on Aug. 4. Although voters must vote within their party, there is no “straight party” option for the primary. This means you cannot jump back and forth or cross-vote between parties. If you do, you risk spoiling your ballot and your vote will not be counted.
Next month, Alger County voters will be asked to select a candidate to run for governor in November, as well as U.S. senator, U.S. representative, state senator, state representative, county commissioner and county road commissioner.
Also on the ballot are several millages, including the renewal of ambulance, law enforcement and fire protection, as well as senior services and a millage to support the operation of public transportation in Alger County.
Mary Walther Johnson, Au Train Township clerk, said her team and residents are well prepared for Aug. 4, but she said the straight ticket voting is still confusing to some.
“It’s not an Au Train Township rule. It’s not a county rule. It’s a state rule,” Johnson said of Michigan Constitutional Proposal 18-3. “I always say, ‘Think of it as though we’re having two elections today, but they’re sharing the same ballot.’”
Johnson said one of the best things voters can do to prepare for this and any election is to look at a ballot before heading to the polls.
“What’s great is voters have access to view their particular ballot online through the Michigan Voting Information site,” she said. This way, voters won’t be surprised or caught off-guard in the voting booth.
Johnson said when it comes to more detailed information about candidates and where they stand, voters are encouraged to do their own independent research as that information is not included via michigan.gov/vote.
While clerks and poll workers across Alger County’s eight townships and the City of Munising are participating in training ahead of the election, VandeVelde said early voting has already been a huge success and he encourages voters to take advantage of early voting.
“It’s kind of the best of both worlds,” he said. “It’s convenient. You still have to be here in person, but you can fit it into your schedule a bit easier and, especially for the primary, you have that assurance that their vote will count.”
Although the votes are not tabulated until Election Day, VandeVelde said there’s a reassurance that comes with hearing the voting machine accept the ballot in person.