KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo County employees could be swapping holidays in the next year, due in part to election reform laws in Michigan.
The county board is set to approve a motion to eliminate a day off on November election days and add a day off on Indigenous Peoples Day.
Federally, it’s still Columbus Day, but in Michigan it’s been replaced by the new holiday on the second Monday in October.
County human resources director Sharon Brown says voters have a whole new range of ways and times they can vote now, and it’s no longer necessary to give them a day off work.
“With the no reason absentee voting, as well as early voting, there’s plenty of opportunities for increased voter access.”
She says giving them a Monday holiday also works out better for court dockets and sheriff’s department scheduling than a day off on Tuesday.
“Gives us an opportunity to honor the people’s culture and history and ongoing contributions of indigenous peoples, including the tribes that encompass this region.”
County employees could still get two hours off every other election day. That will be on the county board’s afternoon agenda for discussion on Tuesday.
It comes too late to take effect this fall.
If approved, it would begin next fall.
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