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Livonia clerk asks council to consolidate 44 precincts to 26; ordinance to be drafted by law for March review
Summary
City Clerk presented a proposal to permanently consolidate Livonia’s 44 voting precincts to 26, mirroring off-year consolidations and estimating savings of about $91,786 per election; council referred the ordinance drafting to the law department for a first read.
City Clerk Lori presented a proposal to the Livonia City Council on Feb. 24 to permanently consolidate the city's 44 voting precincts down to 26. The clerk said the plan mirrors the city’s existing practice in odd-year elections and aims to reduce costs, streamline ballot administration and preserve ballot fidelity so voters access the correct ballot.
Clerk’s presentation and rationale: The clerk told council staff studied voter behavior, early-voting numbers and permanent absentee (permanent ballot) trends. Key numbers cited included roughly 78,500 registered voters in the city, about 32% of whom are on a permanent ballot list, and an early voting turnout of 10,799 Livonia residents at the city’s early-voting site during the prior presidential cycle. The office estimated a cost savings of approximately $91,786 per election through reduced inspector pay, fewer tabulators to purchase when the city’s Dominion Voting contract expires in two years, and lower testing and equipment-preparation costs.
Process and timeline: The clerk said state and county timing requires submission to Wayne County by April 1; because the city charter specifies precincts by ordinance, the 44 existing ordinance sections must be repealed and replaced with 26 new ordinance sections. The proposal was unanimously supported by the Election Commission and the clerk asked the council to refer the measure to the city law department for redrafting so it could be presented for a first read and subsequent votes.
Council action: The council voted to send the proposal to the law department for ordinance drafting and scheduled the item to return for a first read at the next regular meeting so Livonia can meet the county’s April 1 deadlines.
Ending: The law department will prepare draft ordinance language to repeal and replace existing precinct ordinances; the clerk’s office said it will conduct voter education and outreach on any changes well ahead of implementation.
