As February Elections Near, Clerk Reminds Voters About Online Service

Oakland County, Michigan, January 20, 2010 -- Not sure when the next election will be held for your community or school district? The Oakland County Clerk's new Election Reminder Service - which sends voters an email alerting them about upcoming elections - can help.

"Voters in the city of Troy, Bloomfield Township and the Berkley School District will be heading to the polls on Feb. 23 to consider ballot proposals," said Ruth Johnson, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds.  "We're more than happy to send those voters, and all voters in Oakland County, email alerts about upcoming elections. Some things are just too important to be missed, including your right to celebrate your freedom by voting."

Oakland County voters who want to sign up for the free online service, created in October and  believed to be one of the first such services offered at the county level - may visit the Clerk's homepage at www.oakgov.com/clerkrod and click on the Election Reminder service logo. Voters will be asked to submit their email address.  Once users sign up for the service, the Clerk's office will automatically email a voting alert to them two weeks prior to all local, school, state and federal elections so voters can scan the list to see if they have an upcoming election in their area. A second reminder will be sent 24 hours before the election.  The reminder will include a link to the Clerk's Elections website, which provides a lot of valuable election-related information, including:

• A list of candidates and ballot proposals for that election.
• Campaign finance reports listing donations to candidates and political committees.
• A list of local polling locations.
• The link to get results on Election Night with our easy-to-use election reporting system.
• A  link to the state's Voter Information Center which can help voters determine if they are registered to vote, help them find their polling location and view a sample ballot.
• Information on voter registration.
• Information on how to become a poll worker.
• Instructional videos for new voters or voters who may need a little refresher course.

"Sometimes small elections and special elections are not very well publicized and this will be one more way to get the word out," said Johnson, an outspoken opponent against "stealth" elections where elections are minimally advertised and seemingly held at off-times to apparently discourage widespread voter participation.

Johnson said the Election Reminder is aimed at improving voter turnout, but ultimately, it is the responsibility of every voter who chooses to do so to cast their ballot on Election Day. Turnout in recent elections includes:

• 17.88 percent in November 2009
• 11 percent in September 2009
• 7.27 percent in August 2009
• 8.89 percent in May 2009
• 72.40 percent in the November 2008 election

 "We hope this service helps ensure that everyone has their voice heard and their vote counted on Election Day," Johnson said.