KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Voters in Kalamazoo County will decide on several ballot issues by Tuesday, but many will mail in their ballots and not go to the polls on May 5th.
— What’s on the Ballot? —
For all Kalamazoo County voters, the Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Agency is asking for a renewal of the current 1.5 mill property tax. This wouldn’t be a tax raise, just a continuation of the previous rate. The 1.5 mil property tax was last approved in 2017, and is expected to raise 12.5 million dollars for school systems across Kalamazoo County. KRESA officials say the enhancement millage gives districts some extra funding room to supplement revenue raised locally and dollars from the state and federal governments.
Ross Township voters are being asked to renew a fire millage renewal. The proposal is for 1 mill for five years to fund the Augusta-Ross Township Fire Department.
Voters in Vicksburg will vote on a 41 million dollar proposal to renovate school district buildings. The ballot measure is specifically asking voters to approve a 3.3-mil property tax to partially fund the projects, with additional money coming from investment returns on issued bonds over a period of multiple years. If approved this would provide renovations to schools, new school buses, fixes to athletic fields, new technology, and more.
Otsego Public Schools, who are outside of KRESA, will ask voters to say yes to a 22.9 million dollar school improvement bond. The district’s millage rate would remain at 8.49 mills and it would replace the current building and site sinking fund with this bond proposal. Officials say if passed it would generate $22.9 million dollars and complete a number of school improvements without raising taxpayers’ existing rates.
— How do I Vote? —
Over 30 Michigan counties will hold May 5th elections to decide on a variety of ballot questions, but this is mainly a mail-in voting process.
Under Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order, Michiganders are highly encouraged to vote absentee in an effort to limit in-person contact.
Those still with absentee ballots should drop them off at their local clerk’s office before 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Almost every office in Kalamazoo County has drop off boxes so no human interaction is needed. The city of Kalamazoo just installed a new drop off box along the driveway behind City Hall.
Each jurisdiction will have at least one polling location open on Election Day where any voter can appear in-person to receive and submit a ballot. That polling place will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Locally, voters in Kalamazoo County will have to go to their local clerk’s office in order to vote the day of.
— How do I register? —
Same-day registration will also still be available, and those who need to request and then cast their absentee ballot in the clerk’s office may do so.
— What Safety Precautions are Being Taken? —
Kalamazoo County Clerk Tim Snow says the city office has put 6-feet markings in the atrium of the building and outside the perimeter for voters to stand and socially distance on Election Day. Masks will also be provided to anyone who needs one.
Overall he’s encouraging voters to utilize the drop boxes to limit in-person contact.
— Voter Turnout —
Snow says as of 5:00 p.m. Monday, they have issued 54,461 absentee ballots, and 37,107 have been returned, which is just over 68 percent returned.
He believes many more will be returned throughout the day. “I’m suspecting that we will not see our normal return of absentee ballots, which is usually close to 90 to 95% returned…but for the first all mail election that we’ve run, we’re doing pretty good,” Snow said.
Snow adds they have already exceeded the number of returns in what they saw in November of 2019, which was a similar election.
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Sample ballots and more voting information can be found here.
