On Jan. 15th, you'll have an opportunity to have your vote count and your voice be heard in Michigan's presidential primary election.
The timing was unfortunate for a number of reasons, but thanks to a lot of scrambling, determination and hard work by your local clerks and our elections team, polling places will be open and waiting.
A few things to keep in mind as you head to your local precinct:
Bring your wallet. Remember that you'll have to show current photo identification under Michigan's new Voter ID law. Acceptable forms are a driver's license, passport, a state or federal ID card, military ID, a student ID or tribal identification card. If you forget your photo ID, you will be allowed to vote if you sign an affidavit.
Know that you will have to declare a political party preference - Republican or Democrat. I don't like it either, but lawmakers decided that this election would be a closed primary. You'll indicate your choice on your application to vote form. (There are a few communities with non-partisan, local ballot proposals, too.)
There is an option on both the Republican and Democrat ballots that will allow you to simply vote "uncommitted" - which leaves decision on specific candidates up to your national convention delegates.
Write-in votes aren't valid unless candidates have registered with the state before the election. (As of this writing, no write-in candidates had registered.) Your vote for Mickey Mouse, your mom, your dog or your Uncle Bob will simply be disregarded. Don't waste your vote.
Only four of the Democrat candidates will be listed on your ballot and one of them, Chris Dodd, has already dropped out of the race. Some well-known candidates will not appear because of a dispute with the Democratic Party over the timing of the Michigan's presidential primary election.
If you're not sure where you are registered to vote, visit our web site at www.oakgov.com/clerkrod and click on elections. Click on "Where Am I Registered?" for assistance.
Be kind to your local clerk and your poll workers. They were probably up before sunrise, at work by 6 a.m. and will put in a good 12 or 13 hours at the polls - more out of patriotism than for the pay scale. Chances are they don't like declaring their party preference any more than you do and they're wondering why they're not in Florida like their neighbors.
On election night, we'll have nearly up-to-the-minute Oakland County results on our web site. Visit often to see how the presidential hopefuls are doing.
There's plenty not to like about this election, but it is part of our system of Democracy. Vote.
Ruth Johnson
Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds
