Grand Rapids commission advances plan to reduce precincts from 74 to 59 despite access concerns

The Grand Rapids City Commission voted to publish and set a date to consider an ordinance that would change the city's voting precincts, moving the process forward without final adoption. The proposal would change the ordinance that currently references the number of precincts and would reduce the number of voting sites from 74 to 59.

Commissioner Perdue opposed advancing the change and said she believes the plan "will actually reduce voter access in the city of Grand Rapids," noting the proposal would eliminate 15 precincts in total and fully remove six voting sites. "This is the last opportunity for you all to reconsider," Perdue said, urging colleagues and the public to press for retention of the six sites she identified as at-risk.

Why it matters: The city cited changes in state law and voting patterns…