Houghton County clerk and public commenters raise concerns over missing library millage on Portage Township ballot

At the Aug. 13 Houghton County Board meeting County Clerk Jennifer Kelly reported a clerical error affected the Aug. 6 election: the library millage was accidentally omitted from the ballot used at Portage Township Precinct 4. Kelly said the error was discovered after ballots had been finalized and that, according to Lori Bourbonais at the Michigan Bureau of Elections, it was too late to reprogram and reprint ballots for that precinct.

During the public‑comment portion of the meeting multiple residents addressed the board about election procedures. Angie Hamilton spoke about the Early Voting Center and canvassing; Karen Timmonen raised the missing library millage on Portage Township Precinct 4’s ballot; Lynn Singer referenced an Election Commission meeting held June 4; and Faith Morrison spoke about voting at the Early Voting Center.

The board did not reverse the precinct’s ballots at the meeting; the minutes reflect the clerk’s report and public comments. No formal remedy or rerun was described in the meeting record; the clerk’s account indicates this was an administrative error and that the Bureau of Elections advised reprinting was not an option at that stage.