City council election held today
Voting booths to be open until 8 p.m. at 17 East Lansing locations
By Kate Jacobson (Last updated: 11/04/09 12:37am)Editor’s Note: Changes have been made to the online version of this story to most accurately reflect Hans Larsen’s opinion of the current City Council.
Beard
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Today is the day for East Lansing residents to cast their votes to determine who will fill the two open seats on the East Lansing City Council. Anyone registered to vote in East Lansing is eligible to participate in the election. Students who are registered to vote and have listed their East Lansing address as their permanent residence are eligible to vote.
Three names will appear on the ballot, but four candidates are vying to fill the seats. Incumbents Mayor Vic Loomis and Councilmember Kevin Beard will face challengers Hans Larsen and write-in candidate Phil Bellfy.
East Lansing City Clerk Nicole Evans said poll workers tested voting equipment Oct. 19 and she expects no problems at any of the city’s 17 precincts. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Anyone going to vote must present a valid picture ID, such as a driver’s license. Those without a photo ID must provide a signed affidavit stating they do not have one in their possession.
Evans said students can call the City Clerk’s Office at (517) 319-6914 or visit the Michigan Voter Information Center’s Web site, www.michigan.gov/vote, to find out if they are registered in East Lansing and at which precinct they should vote.
Voter information and a sample ballot can be found at the city clerk’s section of the city’s Web site, www.cityofeastlansing.com.
As final votes are being counted tonight, the results will be posted at City Hall, 410 Abbot Road, and on the city’s Web site, Evans said.
Evans said all of the counts are unofficial until the County Board of Canvassers meets to certify the election Nov. 17 and administer the oath of office to newly elected council members.
After council members are sworn in, the council will select two people to serve as mayor and mayor pro tem, Evans said.
During the past few years, voter turnout for local elections has been low. Evans said voter turnout during the 2005 election was 15 percent, and that number dropped to 11 percent in 2007.
Turnout at on-campus precincts — which represent mostly students — was zero percent in 2007 and less than 10 percent in 2005, she said.
Evans said she expects citywide turnout to be even lower this year because there are no proposals on the ballot.
“I expect less than a 10 percent turnout, which is approximately 2,800 voters,” Evans wrote in an e-mail.
No-preference freshman Christine Hood said she is registered to vote in East Lansing but doesn’t plan to vote today.
She said although she thinks voting is important, she was not aware of the candidates and issues. Bigger elections, such as the presidential election last year, would make her more apt to vote, she said.
“If I had been old enough to vote last November, then I would’ve voted,” Hood said.
Political science professor Matt Grossmann said turnout usually is low for local elections, partly because voters aren’t aware the election is happening.
“There is evidence that if you just knock on peoples’ doors and remind them who’s on the ballot, they’re more likely to show up,” he said.
Grossmann said people might be aware of issues, but might not be engaged enough to vote.
“They would have to believe that their vote was influential,” he said.
Originally Published: 11/02/09 11:36pm
Ann Larsen
11/03/09 12:07amHans Larsen has worked hard at informing and educating the voters of East Lansing. The truth is there to found for anyone with the willingness and time to look at it. GOOOOOO Hans!!
Marie
11/03/09 1:00pmPoliticians that supported City Center II do NOT deserve your vote or respect.
D
11/03/09 2:41pmJoy! This is why students have no voice in the way the city runs, and why the city can get away with banning ‘the right to assembly’ (one of our basic amendments) as well as creating ridiculous ordinances to fine students and make money. There was ZERO % student turnout on campus in 2007, how sad is that? students need to register, and actually get some of their own in the city council, instead of all the old farts who dont want any students here, and help vote many of the laws into effect.
Go lar!
11/03/09 2:44pmI really hope larsen makes it, but considering their are no student voters, I doubt he will. He is who we need in the city council to help the rights, and fairness of students. And yes, the city government is EXTREMELY corrupt.
Phil Bellfy
11/03/09 3:24pmI’m looking at the official 2007 election results, downloaded from the County Clerk’s website.
While student turnout was embarassingly low, students did indeed vote in 2007 for City Council candidates.
The numbers for exclusively on-campus precincts ranged from 2.21% to 3.62%. The community-wide turnout was 10.65%.
Ben Lindstrom
11/03/09 8:13pmThe real problem with student voter turnout is the difficulty of registering to vote at your school address. According to “Rogers’ Law,” your driver’s license and voter registration addresses must match.
Students don’t want to deal with the hassle of having their driver’s license address change every time they move, so many keep their home address on their license and voter registration, and vote in absentee.