City elections now taking place in even numbered years – Primary and General elections held in 2022
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – City Clerk Joel Hondorp reminds voters that there has been a change in the election year reserved for City elected officials. City elections will now be held in even years. The comptroller, city commissioner in each of the wards, and library commissioners will appear on this year’s ballot.
August 2: Primary Election for federal, state and county offices – Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. – Democratic and Republicans candidates are listed on the ballot. Voters need to select one or the other – can’t cross between parties. Two county tax proposals will also be on the ballot.
November 8: General Election – Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. – Voters may vote a straight party or select candidates individually. This ballot includes federal, state, county, judicial, city and school races as well as proposals.
Some reminders before heading to the polls:
- Absentee voting – All registered voters are eligible to receive an absentee ballot (AV) without a reason. To receive an AV, simply fill out an application before every election. The application is available at grandrapidsmi.gov/Services/Apply-for-an-Absentee-Ballot or in the second-floor City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 300 Monroe Ave. NW, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Validated parking is available in the Government Center Ramp off Monroe and Ottawa avenues. Or, be placed on a permanent AV list to receive an application before each election by signing up at grandrapidsmi.gov/avlist or contacting the Clerk’s Office at 616.456.3010.
- Straight party voting (for November only) – Voters can vote the partisan section of the ballot by selecting the party only.
- Voter registration – Residents who are 18 or older are automatically registered to vote when they make a transaction with the Secretary of State. Register to vote by mail up to 15 days before an election and or in person at the City Clerk’s Office within 14 days of the election up to Election Day. One needs to prove residency in the city.
- Know before you go – Check voter registration status, register to vote, view a sample ballot or find a polling location at michigan.gov/vote.
Every ten years following the Census, U.S. House, State Senate, State House, and County Commission Districts are redrawn to make sure each district contains the same amount of the population. This process is call reapportionment. Because every voter in Grand Rapids will have at least a new number for their State House District, the Clerk’s Office mailed every voter a Voter Information Card in June that lists the voter’s name, address, precinct number, precinct polling location and list of their districts. This is an information card only and not used for voting.
There has been some slight adjustment to a couple of the boundaries of precincts and precincts 7 – 77 have been renumbered 7-74. Although a precinct number may have changed, most likely the polling location did not. City Ward boundaries did not change. Go to michigan.gov/vote to view voter information.
Original source can be found here.
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