Council to amend municipal code to fix split precinct affecting about 548 voters

Livonia’s City Clerk told council that a recent precinct consolidation inadvertently created a split precinct and the state Bureau of Elections recommended a targeted fix that affects roughly 548 voters.

Earlier this year the city consolidated precincts from 44 to 26. When the clerk submitted the new precinct map to the state, the Bureau of Elections identified a small group that would have received a different ballot at the polling place — a split precinct. The Bureau advised either keeping the split or moving that small group to a neighboring precinct so all voters at a location receive the same ballot. The clerk said election commissioners unanimously supported moving the group from Precinct 23 to Precinct 24 so there is no split ballot at that location.

The change does not alter where affected voters cast ballots; the clerk said the voters still will vote at the same polling location (Grant). The clerk said the city will mail updated voter information cards to the affected voters to notify them of the change.

Councilmembers asked how many voters were affected and were told about 548 people were placed in the wrong precinct by the consolidation. The council made a motion to place the ordinance amendment on the regular meeting agenda for final action and public explanation.