At the invitation of Township Clerk Martin C. Brook, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson met with the Bloomfield Township Clerk’s Office staff in recognition of National Voter Registration Day on September 19th. Established in 2012, National Voter Registration Day is a program designed to provide communication, on a national level, about voter registration and organizational resources.
In 2019, Secretary Benson launched automatic voter registration in Michigan, whereby Michigan citizens that apply for or update their driver’s license or personal ID cards are automatically registered to vote, unless they are ineligible or don’t want to be registered. Now more changes are coming as result of voters passing Proposal 2 in 2022. You can read more about those changes such as the Permanent Mail Ballot List on the Township’s Voting and Elections page.
“In 2023 special elections and the 2024 statewide elections, voters can expect to have more options than ever before and the biggest is early voting,” said Secretary Benson. Bloomfield Township voters will have nine days of early in-person voting at the Bloomfield Township Public Library.
Secretary Benson was given a tour of the Clerk’s Office, which she affectionately referred to as “The War Room.” Clerk Brook also provided a look into the past: displaying metal ballot storage containers and voter registration rolls from the early days of women’s suffrage. At that time, the Township maintained two registration books: one for the male voter and one for the female voter.
“I’m a history buff and when I was elected I took the time to research old records,” said Clerk Brook. “Just after women’s suffrage, there were two books for men and women. It struck me as odd and I show it whenever I get a chance. Everyone takes their own meaning away from it.”
In recognition of the Clerk’s Office staff, Secretary Benson stated, “You are on the front line, and next year will be big.” She also added, “This is the fun stuff, meeting the people who make all of this happen.”
“It was great for my staff to meet her and discuss our challenges and concerns with the Chief Election Officer in Michigan,” said Clerk Brook. “We’re thrilled she could meet the people working on elections in Bloomfield Township and thank her for her work to make elections safe and secure in Michigan.”
“Bloomfield Township has among the highest voter participation rates in the State of Michigan, which is something to be proud of and a great reflection of the work being done here,” said Secretary Benson.
For more information on elections and voting, contact the Bloomfield Township Clerk’s Office.
View the photo album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAVy8q