Hamtramck council adopts tighter residency checks and election‑integrity measures

Hamtramck’s City Council voted on Jan. 13 to tighten candidate residency verification and to adopt an election‑integrity and candidate‑ethics protocol that includes training and additional clerical safeguards.

The residency measure formalizes documentation the city clerk may require — for example, 12 months of consecutive utility bills, a recorded deed or current property‑tax statement — while allowing alternative documentation, such as a lease, where appropriate. Council members emphasized the purpose was to prevent people who do not meet Michigan’s residency requirements from running for local office.

Separately, the council adopted a resolution imposing election‑integrity procedures that include candidate training, an affidavit requirement and additional security steps in the clerk’s office. Staff said they plan to install a glass partition between the mail room and clerk’s office, block one door during elections, and add cameras during election periods to reduce the chance of future disputes over ballots or process.

Council members and staff described the changes as primarily procedural clarifications tied to state law. “It doesn’t violate any laws,” the city attorney said during the discussion; staff said the measures largely formalize practices and add transparency for candidates and voters. The measures passed by roll call.

Councilors said clerk verification, training, and modest physical security upgrades are intended to reduce confusion and the potential for legal challenges or recounts related to residency or process.