With a focus on promoting mail in voting and training new workers for the polls, Oakland County’s elections advisory council has announced some of its plans for the upcoming 2020 elections.
The council was formed in June, led by David Woodward, chairman of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, Lisa Brown, Oakland County clerk, Nancy Quarles, commissioner and chair of the council, and local clerks from around the county. They’ve met weekly since June to listen to clerk’s election concerns and help create a coordinated effort to increase voter turnout in August and November.
Four resolutions suggested by the council were recently adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. The first urges residents to vote by mail to reduce COVID-19 exposure at polling locations.
“These elections are sure to draw unprecedented interest, not only because of the candidates and issues involved, but because of the challenges COVID-19 presents for conducting an election that is safe and fair,” Oakland County Executive David Coulter said. “That’s why this Oakland Together 2020 Democracy Initiative is so important. Our goal is to ensure safe, healthy, secure elections with full participation by Oakland County residents.”
The second created an interlocal agreement that will allow local communities to work with the county clerk’s office to process and count absentee ballots. Forty communities requested assistance for the November general election, only 20 requested assistance for the August primary, which historically has a lower voter turnout than the general election.
Secure drop boxes for mail in ballots have already been installed at some local clerk’s offices, according to Brown. More are likely on the way for the fall election.
Woodward also stated that the board of commissioners plans to introduce a proposal this week for the county to pay for postage for every absentee ballot in November. It would make Oakland County the first county to do so in Michigan, he said.