Upcoming City General Election: NOVEMBER 6, 2007
The City will conduct its bi-annual City General Election on Tuesday, November 6th. The following offices and candidates will be on the ballot:
Office: Candidates:
Mayor (2-year term ending 2009) James Rynberg
Two Councilmembers (4-year terms ending 2011) Jane Drake
Dick Conley
Board of Review (6-year term ending 2013) No Filings
As a reminder, the Newaygo County Clerk’s Office has a website at www.electionmagic.com that provides current election results as they are reported to the County.
We want to hear your voice!
Voter registration is the first step to performing one’s duties as a citizen. Once registered, the next step is to make informed choices by studying the candidates and issues. To be eligible, you must be:
- A U.S. citizen
- At least 18 years of age by election day
- A Michigan resident
Our biannual General City Election is held each odd numbered year on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November. The City ballot will contain the position of Mayor (term ending every two years), two Councilmember positions (terms ending every four years) and one Board of Review position (term ending every six years). To hold one of the above City Offices, you must:
- Have been a resident of the City of Fremont for one year before the election date
- Be a registered voter on the last day of filing for nominating petitions
- Not be in default of outstanding bills or taxes to the City
As a reminder, the Newaygo County Clerk’s Office has a web site at www.electionmagic.com that will provide current election results as they are reported to the County.
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Election Signs
We support property owners exercising their Constitutional right to free speech by placing political signs on their own property. We do ask, however, that owners limit the signs to four square feet and have no more than one sign per candidate or ballot issue. City ordinances prohibit placement of any signs on City property or in City street rights-of-ways (ROW’s.) ROW's for residential streets are typically 66 feet wide. Generally, the ROW extends to the backside of any sidewalk, or 33 feet from the center of the road where there are no sidewalks. Signs placed on public property or in street ROW's will be removed and disposed of by the City without notice or compensation. We would appreciate residents' cooperation in helping minimize roadside clutter and preventing vision safety problems along our roadways.
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Absentee Ballot
Voting with an absentee ballot is convenient and helps reduce lines at the polls on busy election days. As a registered voter, you may obtain an absent voter ballot if you are:
- Aged 60 years old or older
- Unable to vote without assistance at the polls
- Expecting to be out of town on election day
- In jail awaiting arraignment or trial
- Unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons
- Appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.
If you would like to be added to the City's permanent absentee voter list, please contact the City Offices. If qualified, you will receive an absentee voter application before each election and be given the option to vote with an absentee ballot or in person.
A person who registers to vote by mail must vote in person in the first election in which he or she participates. The restriction does not apply to overseas voters, voters who are handicapped or voters who are 60 years of age or older. (Voting in person on one governmental level clears the restriction on the other levels. For example, if a voter subject to the restriction votes in person at a school election, the voter would be free to obtain an absentee ballot for the first state election in which he or she wishes to participate.)
Requesting an Absent Voter (AV) Ballot
Your request for an absent voter ballot must be submitted to the City Clerk in writing. Your request must include one of the six statutory reasons stated above and your signature. You may request an absent voter ballot with a letter or post card, or you can obtain a pre-printed application form the Clerk’s office. Requests to have an absent voter ballot mailed to you must be submitted to the City Clerk no later than 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election.
Once your request is received by the local clerk, your signature on the request will be checked against your voter registration record before a ballot is issued. Requests for absent voter ballots are processed immediately. Absent voter ballots may be issued to you at your home address or any address outside of your city or township of residence. You can be placed on the City’s permanent AV voting list, from which you will automatically be mailed an AV application before every city/state/federal election.
After receiving your absent voter ballot, you have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to complete the ballot and return it to the clerk’s office. Your ballot will not be counted unless your signature is on the return envelope and matches your signature on file. If you received assistance voting the ballot, then the signature of the person who helped you must also be on the return envelope. Only you, a family member or person residing in your household, a mail carrier, or election official is authorized to deliver your signed absent voter ballot to your clerk’s office.
If an emergency, such as a sudden illness or family death prevents you from reaching the polls on Election Day, you may request an emergency absent voter ballot. Requests for an emergency ballot must be submitted after the deadline for regular absent voter ballots has passed, but before 4 p.m. on election day. The emergency must have occurred at a time that made it impossible for you to apply for a regular absent voter ballot. The City Clerk (link to directory) will explain more about emergency absent voter ballots.
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How to register
Any Secretary of State branch office or county, city or township clerk’s office can register you. In addition, specified agencies providing services through the Family Independence Agency, the Department of Community Health, the Michigan Jobs Commission and military recruitment centers also provide voter registration services.
You may also register to vote by mail – forms are available at your local clerk’s office or from the Secretary of State web site. If you register to vote by mail, and you have moved to a new voting jurisdiction or are registering for the very first time, you must vote in person in the first election in which you participate. The only exceptions are if you are 60 years old or older, disabled as defined by law or temporarily living overseas.
You also have the option of registering to vote when you renew your driver license by mail. Eligible drivers receive a voter registration application in the mail with their driver license renewal information.
As you can see, there are several options for you to choose from when registering to vote. But no matter where or how you register, you must vote in your assigned precinct in your hometown. Once registered, the next step is to make sure you study the candidates & issues to help make informed choices.
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Inspector Application
Interested in serving as an Election Inspector? Download the application in the Permits and Forms section of this web site and return the completed form to the City Clerk.
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Where to Vote
Both Fremont Voting Polls are located in City Hall:
- Precinct 1 — Council Chambers
- Precinct 2 — Court Room
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