Commission approves permanent relocation of Precinct 5 to City Hall

The Mount Clemens City Commission approved a city clerk request to permanently relocate voting Precinct 5 (formerly at the Jermaine Jackson Community Center) to City Hall, consolidating it as Precinct 6.

City Clerk presented background: due to low turnout at Precinct 5 and the availability of absentee voting, the clerk's office temporarily redirected voters to City Hall for the 2018 and 2019 elections without incident. The election commission approved the permanent relocation at its Dec. 19, 2019 meeting. The clerk said all affected voters will be notified by mailing and signs posted at the former polling place.

Commissioners asked for clarification about turnout numbers and whether increases at City Hall reflected a Precinct 5 effect. The clerk responded that turnout increases were seen broadly, not only from Precinct 5, but that consolidating reduces costs and centralizes voter services.

The motion to relocate and consolidate Precinct 5 passed on a roll-call vote. Commissioner Forier and others noted the city will mail new voter identification cards to affected addresses and post notices to direct voters to City Hall.

Public commenters raised concerns during the meeting. Shelley Emerson said she was "disappointed" that local access to a voting place would be lost in some neighborhoods as a cost-saving step; a second public comment round included calls to review local blight and safety issues near neighborhood polling places.

Implementation steps: the clerk's office will mail new voter ID cards to affected voters, post notices at the former site, and update the city's website and social media.

Provenance: Topic introduced with the clerk's presentation of agenda item 9B and concluded with the roll-call vote approving relocation and consolidation.