City Clerk Kyle Whitney briefed the Marquette City Commission on Nov. 24 about the city election board’s role and recent activity, summarizing procedural responsibilities and 2025 work.

Whitney said the election board met three times this year to certify candidates for local offices, appoint election workers and conduct a public accuracy test of the city’s voting equipment. He noted that state law and the city charter prescribe the board’s duties: the clerk serves as chair and the board appoints election inspectors, establishes precinct boundaries and oversees absent-voter counting boards.

The clerk described several statewide changes now affecting local administration: required drop boxes, prepaid postage and ballot-application tracking available from the secretary of state. Whitney said the city implemented early tabulation of absentee ballots and provided early voting across three days (about 60 voters during those days).

Whitney also reported that roughly 4,100 residents are on Marquette’s permanent absentee ballot list; the Nov. election saw about 3,000 votes cast from a registered-voter base the clerk transcribed as 14,750, and he said about 76% of votes were cast absentee in that cycle. The clerk noted the county certified the election and the state conducted a post-election audit in one precinct.

Commissioners thanked Whitney and staff for administering the election and for maintaining public accuracy checks.