Don’t call the township clerk for an absentee voter ballot for the June 9 school election.
In a switch from recent tradition, Clarkston Community Schools have elected to administer the election rather than contract with the Independence Township Clerk’s office.
Deputy Superintendent David Reschke and his secretary, Becky Kelly, have tackled the responsibility of publishing legal notices, printing ballots and supervising voting in the election that includes two school board seats, a proposal to restore the full 18-mill ‘non-homestead? property tax and an $83.7 million bond proposal.
While giving high praise to township officials for their past assistance, Reschke said school officials decided to go it alone this time.
‘We’ve had a great relationship with the township over the years,? Reschke said. ‘A couple years ago we started to look at a contract that was very old and outdated. We tried to piece together a new contract and never reached an agreement.?
The conflict has not necessarily been financial.
‘The township wasn’t unreasonable about their fees,? he said. ‘About a year ago we thought, ‘A lot of districts do their own elections; why don’t we try it?? After this experience we can either go back and try to negotiate an agreement with the township or we might feel comfortable on our own.?
Kelly and Trustee Ron Sullivan have attended state training for election supervision, and state law dictates the procedures to be followed.
‘We’ve confirmed that it is a lot of work,? Reschke said. ‘The laws are very clear, and if you follow them you’re in good shape, but the public doesn’t understand, I don’t believe, how many rules and regulations there are that we must follow.?
‘You appreciate the work involved,? Kelly said, noting a number of first-year learning experiences. ‘There’s just a lot involved.?
One of those learning experiences includes the procedure for absentee voter ballots, and local resident Mary Barnes is among those concerned.
Barnes said she received information on how to register to vote, but not on how to receive the absentee ballot. She called the Independence Township Hall and was directed to the school district. It took a couple of calls before she received the needed information.
‘I didn’t think this was a real organized thing,? Barnes said. She is among those who supports the tax proposals, but fears some voters may be discouraged by the procedure. ‘The harder you make it, the more some people just want to forget it.?
One difference is really no difference. While Independence Township traditionally sends AVB applications to all citizens age 60 and above, that has not been the case for school elections, even when administered by the township clerk’s office.
Independence Township Clerk Joan McCrary said state law dictates a consistent policy for each unit of government. It is an extra cost to send the applications.
‘The school district makes that decision,? she said.
Reschke said the school district will mail applications to those on a township-supplied ‘permanent? AVB list, which includes handicapped citizens and election workers, but a mailing to all senior citizens is not feasible.
‘We just don’t have a database to do that,? he said, ‘and we think we have plenty of accessibility to that process.?
McCrary, whom Kelly credits for continuing advice and assistance, is sympathetic concerning the change.
‘It’s not a change of procedure,? McCrary said. ?[Voters] have to call someplace different.?
Those interested in absentee ballots may call Kelly at (248) 623-5413. Ample time must be allowed for mailing and return of the application.
‘If you want one, give us a call, and we’ll get [an application] to you,? Reschke said.
Those who qualify may also vote by absentee ballot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 7 at both the school district administration building and at the Independence Township Hall (where staff must verify signatures for ballots to be counted).
On election day, however, Reschke expect the change to be ‘seamless.? The district has opted to use the same 19 voting precincts used in general elections, with most of the same polling inspectors helping voters.
‘That costs us money to do that,? Reschke said. ‘We could eliminate some of the precincts, but for the convenience of the community we’ve decided to keep the same precincts. It makes it easy for the population to know where to go [to vote].
‘If you’re a Clarkston school district voter, you shouldn’t see a difference,? he said.
State law also dictates how to protect against appearances of conflict of interest, just as when a township clerk runs for reelection. Reschke said he and Kelly are totally separate from school officials working the information campaign for the tax proposals.
‘We’re real careful with that,? he said. ‘They’re trying to draw the line to keep it real separate. We’re going to do our best to stay clean.?