Election Commission

CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS MINUTES OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION MARCH 1, 2018 Location: Conference Room 202, City Hall, 40555 Utica Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313 1. Meeting called to order and roll call Chair Ryska called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. Commissioners present: Wayne Davis, Joseph Niman, Jr., Melanie Ryska, City Clerk Also present: Judy McHale, Clerk Coordinator Chair Ryska introduced Judy McHale to the Commission. 2. Approval of Agenda. Motion by Davis, seconded by Niman, to approve the agenda as presented. Yes: All Motion carried. 3. Approval of meeting minutes of October 4, 2017. Motion by Davis, seconded by Niman, to approve the meeting minutes of October 4, 2017 as presented. Yes: All Motion carried. 4. To consider consolidation of precincts at the same polling locations for the May 8, 2018 Special Macomb Community College Election. Chair Ryska explained that explained that in past practice, polling locations that contain two precincts have been consolidated into one precinct for Special and City Elections. There are 13 locations that have two precincts. Consolidation will reduce the number of precincts from 45 to 32. Motion by Niman, seconded by Davis, to approve the consolidation of precincts at the same polling locations for the May 8, 2018 Special Macomb Community College Election. Yes: All Motion carried. Election Commission March 1, 2018 Page 2 5. To consider establishment of absent voter counting boards for the May 8, 2018 Special Macomb Community College Election, August 7, 2018 Primary Election, and November 6, 2018 General Election. Chair Ryska noted that with the new equipment all absent voter ballots are processed on one high- speed DS450 tabulator, and while there will only be one Absent Voter Counting Board for the May 8, 2018 Election, that Board will be broken up into 3 groups to ensure expedient processing of ballots. There will be two Absent Voter Counting Boards for the August 7, 2018 Primary and November 6, 2018 General to accommodate the increased volume of absent voter ballots. Motion by Niman, seconded by Davis, to approve one (1) Absent Voter Counting Boards for the May 8, 2018 Special Macomb Community College Election, and two (2) Absent Voter Counting Boards for the August 7, 2018 State Primary and November 6, 2018 State General Election, at the discretion of the City Clerk. Yes: All Motion carried. 6. Communications from Citizens. None. 7. Old Business. None. The Commission briefly discussed training and Commissioner Niman stressed the importance of reminding Chairs and Co-Chairs that one Republican and one Democrat must go to the Receiving Board on Election night. Chair Ryska explained that this should not be an issue anymore because the Clerk’s Office will now assign Co-Chairs to every precinct that will a different political party from the Chair of the precinct. 8. New Business. None. 9. Adjourn. Moved by Davis, seconded by Niman, to adjourn the meeting at 3:21 p.m. Yes: All Motion carried. ______________________________________________ Melanie D. Ryska, Chair City Clerk