Election Commission

City of Battle Creek Election Commission Meeting 10 N. Division Street – Room 112 Battle Creek, MI August 13, 2015 10:00 AM Present: Steve Hudson, City Assessor and Vicki Houser, City Clerk Absent: Jill Steele, City Attorney Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 10:00 A.M. Approval of Minutes: City Clerk Houser noted the first order of business was the approval of the April 14, 2015 meeting minutes. A motion was made by Steve Hudson, supported by Vicki Houser, to approve the April 14, 2015 Election Commission meeting minutes. All yes, none opposed. Motion carried. City Commission Candidates on the November 3, 2015 ballot Clerk Houser provided a list of candidates who would appear on the November 3, 2015 election ballot, noting there were 5 candidates vying for 4 At-Large Commissioner positions, 2 candidates vying for one Ward 2 position, and 2 candidates vying for one Ward 3 position. Clerk Houser noted candidates for Ward 1, Ward 4 and Ward 5 were running unopposed. Assessor Hudson noted two errors on the petition log, first a switch of the number of signatures collected and the number of signatures verified for the Ward 5 candidate, and the spelling of the last name of one of the Ward 2 candidates. Clerk Houser noted the errors, stating they would be corrected. Consolidation of Precincts for the November 3, 2015 General Election Clerk Houser noted the next order of business was to consider the consolidation of precincts for the November 3, 2015 General Election, to nominate 4 At-Large and 5 Ward City Commissioners. Pursuant to MCL168.659, Clerk Houser noted that the Election Commission can consolidate election precincts not less than 60 days prior to an election based on the complexity of the ballot, anticipated voter turnout, and the combined precincts cannot exceed 5,000 registered voters. Clerk Houser discussed voter turnout for the last 2 City Commission elections, noting 9.95% in 2013 and 12.93% in 2011. By consolidating precincts in the same buildings, Clerk Houser commented this it would save expenses on programming, ballot styles, and election inspector wages. Clerk Houser noted the majority of the consolidations would result in one ballot per consolidated precinct, however two consolidations would result in split ballots as Precincts 2 & 3, which are located at the Territorial School, would require Ward 4 and Ward 5 ballots, and Precincts 7 & 13, which are located at Trinity United Methodist Church, would require Ward 2 and Ward 4 ballots. A motion was made by Vicki Houser, supported by Steve Hudson, to consolidate all precincts that are located in the same building, that being, Precincts 4 & 10, and Precincts 22 & 23 in Ward 1, Precincts 12 & 21 in Ward 2, Precincts 15, 16 & 17 in Ward 3, Precincts 6 & 9 in Ward 4, Precincts 5 & 20, and Precincts 11 & 14 in Ward 5, along with the consolidation of Precincts 2 & 3 representing Wards 4 & 5, and Precincts 7 & 13 representing Wards 2 & 4. All yes. Motion carried. Public Accuracy Test: Clerk Houser noted the November 3, 2015 General Election Public Accuracy Test would be held Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 9:00 am in Room 112, the City Clerk’s Office, requesting one Election Commission member assist with 1 the testing. Ms. Houser noted the Public Accuracy Test will be noticed in the October 22, 2015 Battle Creek Shopper in conjunction with other local Clerk’s testing, specifically the City of Springfield and Bedford Charter Township. Public Comments: There were no public comments. Commission Comments: Assessor Hudson noted the April 14, 2015 meeting minutes noted he would attend the public accuracy test, noting he did participate in the testing. Clerk Houser noted the appointment of precinct inspectors would be on a future agenda as they would need to be appointed between September 24, 2015 and October 13, 2015. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 AM. 2