Press Release

Farmington Hills Clerk and Deputy Clerk Honored for Helping Kids Learn About Democracy

Oakland County, Michigan, October 14, 2008 -- Kathy Dornan, City Clerk of Farmington Hills, and Pam Smith, the city's Deputy Clerk, have been recognized for their work in promoting voting among young people.

Ruth Johnson, the Oakland County Clerk and Register of Deeds, presented awards to Dornan and Smith during Monday night's Farmington Hills City Council meeting. Both women donated long hours to Johnson's Project VOTE, which recycled "gently used" voting machines into schools to offer children a hands-on lesson in voting.

Machines once used to elect U.S. presidents are now being used to elect student council presidents, homecoming queens and have even been used to democratically pick school field day events.

"Kathy Dornan and Pam Smith are not just an asset to Farmington Hills, but to all of Oakland County," Johnson said. "As busy as they are, they found time to help make this project a reality, to teach kids that they can have their voice heard, that their vote counts."

Johnson initiated the Project VOTE (Voting Opportunities Through Education) in 2005, saving hundreds of voting machines - made obsolete by new federal requirements - from landfills. With the help of local clerks across Oakland County, machines were distributed and government and civic teachers were trained on how to use them.

Birmingham City Clerk Nancy Weiss was honored in September for her work on Project VOTE.

On Monday, Oct. 20, as many as 1,200 Birmingham Seaholm High School students will be voting on the recycled machines as part of a mock Obama v. McCain  presidential election.

Earlier this year, Project VOTE received a prestigious 2008 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACO), which recognizes the best new, innovative county programs in the country.

The media is welcome to attend the mock presidential election at Birmingham Seaholm High School on Monday, Oct. 20. Ruth Johnson will be on hand at the school, 2436 W. Lincoln in Birmingham, from 11 a.m. to noon to answer questions about Project VOTE. For more information, contact Johnson at (248) 858-0560.