Election Fairness Matters #2
The 2024 presidential race brought new voters to the rolls. Last fall’s zoning issue also brought new voters who changed their registration from elsewhere to Harbor Springs. As I have said, I am not sure there is anything definitely illegal about that, but it is hard to deny it shifted some of the local election dynamics.
The question I have been asking is, “was it right” to attest you were a “resident” of Harbor Springs a majority of the year for voting purposes, but also say you were a resident somewhere else for most of the year for tax purposes.
The numbers that put that question into context are eye opening and will be coming this week.
Today, I am starting a series of posts about the 2024 general election in Harbor Springs. Some have called this effort “sour grapes” and in a way it is.
However, if you encourage the registration of voters who are really residents of other places most the time, hire Lansing political consultants to craft your “message,” register your organization in Ohio, play fast and loose with the truth on mailers all while not publicly disclosing your campaign funders, the grapes do get a bit vinegary. I am just not sure most folks who truly care about Harbor Springs think that any of it was right.
The ends do not always justify the means.
I have written about some of these numbers before, but I think they are worth repeating in the context of the clear “gaming” of the system that some participated in last fall.
For instance, in one of the most important presidential elections of our lifetime, 10 people in our town went to the effort of filling out a ballot, but didn't vote for a presidential candidate.
That's right, a total of 935 votes were cast in Harbor Springs only 925 for President. That's weird.
Speaking of weird, there were 17 more people who voted on the repeal issue than voted for Mayor. So, some of our neighbors were concerned enough about the direction of our community vote to repeal the zoning code. But then didn't bother to vote for Mayor?
To further set the table a bit, 2024 was an unusually big year for new voters in Harbor Springs. It was, however, not an unusually big year for home sales. In 2024 we had more new registrations than any presidential election year in at least the last quarter century (likely longer, I just didn’t go beyond 25 years of data):
• 2024: 111 new registrations
• 2020: 87 new registrations
• 2016: 61 new registrations
• 2012: 39 new registrations
• 2008: 19 new registrations
• 2004: 36 new registrations
• 2000: 18 new registrations
No off year new registration total comes close to the above presidential election years.
There are a couple of reasons folks have suggested for this surge-both have their root in excitement over the election.
Some have suggested that the increase in registrations was "home grown." They say some folks who live here most the year decided to get involved and register after sitting out multiple previous elections.
That is likely true in a few cases, but my theory is different. I think many of our new registrations were transfers from elsewhere to second home addresses here. Additionally, in some cases children and grandchildren also applied and were registered to vote here.
NOTE: Please keep in mind, many new registrations are submitted online and handled at the state level. All you need to apply is: 1) to be okay with fudging things a bit; 2) a Social Security number; and, 3) an address where you can receive a confirmation post card. (You don’t need a Michigan driver’s license to apply, but if you don’t have one from your downstate address, one can be obtained with a utility bill and tax bill for your Harbor Springs home).
Once registered, you can request an absentee ballot to your home elsewhere and BOOM! System “gamed” and you don’t even need to make it back to Harbor Springs to vote in person!
Okay, I think that sets the stage a bit. I am not certain where this all leads, but it is a conversation worth having. I received lots of great comments last week. The overwhelming sense was a concern about this “gaming” of the system and the effect it has on our local elections.
What I didn’t hear from anyone was an explanation as to why it is right for people who don’t live here a majority of the time to claim Harbor Springs as their residence for voting. (In fact, I heard some may now be concerned they might be called for jury duty.)
Here are a few source documents if you want to check things out yourself:
Definition of Michigan “resident” for the purposes of voting: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/doc.../mcl/pdf/mcl-168-11.pdf
Voter registration form: https://www.michigan.gov/.../Voter-Registration-Form...
Absentee ballot request form: https://www.michigan.gov/.../Absent-Voter-Ballot...
Items you need for a Michigan driver’s license: https://www.michigan.gov/.../Applying_for_lic_or_ID_SOS...
As always, thanks for reading! More to come on this subject in the days ahead. Enjoy this beautiful day!