Dear Students and Colleagues:

The privilege and responsibility to vote is a hallmark of our engagement as citizens of a democracy. I strongly encourage you to register and participate in this process by voting on or before Election Day, Tuesday, November 3.

The last day to register to vote in Michigan by mail or online is October 19. After that, applications must be submitted to your local city or township clerk’s office in person with proof of residency. You can register up to 8 p.m. on Election Day at your city or township clerk’s office. This includes the satellite Ann Arbor City Clerk office in the U-M Museum of Art.

I invite you to visit the Michigan Secretary of State website for information on voting in person or by absentee ballot.  You also may verify your registration, confirm your polling place, and review your sample ballot at the Secretary of State’s Michigan Voter Information Center.

Registration information for residents of other states is available from the National Association of Secretaries of State.

U-M is very pleased to be partnering with the City of Ann Arbor to provide the satellite office location for the City Clerk at our Museum of Art on State Street. All students, faculty and staff can use the location to register to vote and cast early, in-person absentee ballots. I dropped my ballot off earlier this month.

Any Ann Arbor residents voting absentee also may return their ballots at a drop box provided by the city near North Campus, at Ann Arbor Fire Station 5, 1946 Beal Ave., just off Plymouth Road.

Voting information from the City of Ann Arbor is available at the City Clerk website.

To help foster participation, I am asking supervisors to make accommodations whenever possible for all employees to be able to vote, and I am encouraging faculty to avoid scheduling exams and other difficult-to-miss activities and content on Election Day.

This year, Michigan voters will make decisions about candidates for President and Vice President of the United States, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Michigan House of Representatives. Other positions on the ballot include State Supreme Court Justices, the State Board of Education, University of Michigan Board of Regents, Michigan State University Board of Trustees, Wayne State University Board of Governors, and local and judicial offices.

Communities in our region also will consider state and local ballot questions that deserve attention. I encourage you to educate yourselves on the specifics of the local ballot proposals and make an informed decision when casting your vote. The non-partisan Citizens Research Council of Michigan is an excellent resource on the statewide ballot proposals.

A list of the local ballot proposals in Washtenaw County can be found at the county website.

Additionally, I know election cycles can be very stressful times for people in our society. We will be following up with information on support resources, in addition to the many opportunities we are providing to engage in the democratic process and learn about the issues.

I urge you to exercise your right to vote.

Sincerely,

Mark Schlissel
President