KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Monday, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) Chief Vernon Coakley addressed concerns of voter intimidation at Kalamazoo polling places.
Coakley, who became the Chief at the beginning of October, joined a virtual City Commission meeting to explain what the department will be doing in cases of intimidation.
“Our top priority is keeping our residents, visitors and businesses safe, and that includes keeping people safe while they are doing their civic duty and exercising their right to vote on November 3,” Coakley said. “I want to make it clear that every vote in Kalamazoo will be counted. Voter interference or intimidation at polling places will not be tolerated.”
Coakley says they’ve been working with City and Clerk officials to make sure Election Day goes as smoothly as possible, but officers will not be stationed at polling places.
“We will not be static at polling stations, we will be proactive in responding to problems as soon as they are reported,” Coakley said. “Every KDPS officer assigned to Election Day issues will have a working body camera affixed to their uniform and shall comply with KDPS policy 424.”
Any issues reported by City staff, polling staff or residents will have a police response, Coakley said.
“If a situation escalates beyond our staffing capability, we will call upon our community partners to assist,” Coakley said. “We have coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and the City Clerk to ensure all election laws are complied with, and all voter protections are enforced.”
Coakley adds that KDPS has been in contact with other major police agencies in Western Michigan to share what is being done in other areas to prevent voter intimidation.
He also reminded citizens of their other options to vote besides in-person, such as returning an absentee ballot to the Clerk’s office.
“Everyone, please exercise your right to vote,” Coakley said.
Tuesday, the day following Coakley’s comments, a Michigan judge voted to place an injunction on Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s directive to ban firearms from within 100 feet of a polling place. More information on that finding can be found at this link.
Meanwhile, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued guidelines for voting in person safely Tuesday. Those guidelines can be found at this link.
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