Presidential Primary, Portage Millage on Ballot Tuesday
Voters Will Go To Polls January 15
By Paul Gingras

Preparing for the January 15 presidential primary, Garfield Township clerk Linda Bennett tests electronic voting equipment at the Mackinac County Courthouse Friday, January 4.

The first chance for Mackinac County residents to help determine the next president of the United States is at the Michigan presidential primary Tuesday, January 15. Polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in all townships, the City of St. Ignace, and the City of Mackinac Island. Anyone registered to vote in Michigan can choose one of four Democratic candidates, one of nine Republican candidates, vote "uncommitted," or fill in the name of a write-in candidate. There are no candidates running as write-ins, however, so ballots with write-in candidates listed will not be counted.

Portage Township is the only municipality in the county with a local issue on the ballot. The Portage Township Board of Trustees will ask its residents to renew one mill for fire and ambulance equipment, which is to be collected for two years, in 2009 and 2010. If passed, the millage is estimated to generate $68,000 for the first year.

Residents of Portage Township who wish to vote on the millage but do not wish to vote for a presidential candidate can request a No Party Declaration ballot.

In the primary, voters must vote along party lines. When voting for a presidential candidate in a primary, a 1930 Michigan law requires each voter to cast a ballot for only one political party. At the polls, voters will be asked if they want a Republican party ballot or a Democratic party ballot. Voters are not required to be members of a political party to vote, reports Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, nor does participation in the election register them with the Democrats or Republicans.

A list of all primary voters and their party preference will be available to both major parties, but not to any other party or to the general public.

Voting for a candidate in the primary means voting to send Michigan delegates to support that candidate at the Democratic National Convention or the Republican National Convention.

Voting "uncommitted" means choosing to send delegates who are not required to support particular candidates. Rather, they decide for themselves which candidates to support at their conventions, according to JoAnn Ford, chair of the Mackinac County Democratic Party, and Don Gustafson, chair of the Mackinac County Republican Party.

There are no Democrats or Republicans running as write-in candidates for president. Therefore, ballots including votes for write-in candidates cannot be counted.

This is of particular concern to the Democratic party, since four of its candidates are not participating in the Michigan primary.

On the Democratic ballot, voters can choose New York Senator Hillary Clinton, Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, or mark "uncommitted."

Democratic candidates who will not be on the ballot are Illinois Senator Barack Obama, former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and Delaware Senator Joe Biden.

Following the January 2 Iowa caucus, Sens. Dodd and Biden dropped out of the presidential race, although Sen. Dodd will still appear on Michigan's ballot.

All the Republican candidates will be on the Michigan ballot, California Congressman Duncan Hunter, Arizona Senator John McCain, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Voters can choose to support the Republican Party, but not a particular candidate, by checking "uncommitted" on the ballot. Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo and Kansas Senator Sam Brownback also appear on the ballot, but have pulled out of the race.

Other candidates from both parties may also drop out before the Michigan Primary.

There are no third party candidates on the ballot.

Appropriate photograph identification is required to vote, such as a Michigan driver's license, state issued personal identification card, military identification, or a U.S. passport.

Anyone lacking identification can vote by signing an affidavit, after which the county government will verify the voter's residence and discard any illegal ballots, said Mackinac County Clerk Mary Kay Tamlyn.

Residents who are out of town, or who are 60 or older, can vote via absentee ballot, she added. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the clerk of the municipality in which the voter is registered by 2 p.m. Saturday, January 12. Applications can be obtained via the Internet, at the Secretary of State office in St. Ignace, or from county, city, or township clerks.

To be counted, ballots must be received by January 15.

The Secretary of State's office reported that absentee voters also have until 4 p.m. Monday, January 14, to vote in person in their clerk's office.

For residents in emergency situations, the deadline can be extended to 4 p.m. election day. A clerk can deliver an absentee ballot application, and a ballot, to a resident's home, Mrs. Tamlyn said.

As in any election, voters must be registered at least 30 days before the vote.

The deadline was December 17. Anyone who has moved in the 60 days before the election, and has not changed their address with the Secretary of State, must vote in the last municipality where they were registered, Mrs. Tamlyn said.

For more information on absentee voting, identification requirements, or other election matters, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at www. Michigan. gov/vote, or contact a local municipal clerk.