City clerk reports May special-election costs, turnout and changes to absentee/early voting

Anna Zwick, introduced to the Alpena City Council during its July 6 meeting, reported that the May special election cost the city $8,614 and that the largest expense was election workers' payroll.

"The cost for the May election totaled $8,614," Zwick said, adding that election-worker payroll accounted for $3,807 of that total and that the city expects full reimbursement from the county for those special-election expenses.

Zwick told council members the city had 8,271 registered voters at the time of the election and that turnout was 15% — 1,242 voters in total. Of those, 936 (75%) were absentee ballots and 306 voters cast ballots in person. She also said about 1,500 registered voters are on the new permanent absentee ballot list.

The clerk explained the administrative changes behind the turnout figures. Because Alpena and eight other townships in the county are in a joint early-voting agreement, early voting runs nine days and precinct-size limits were increased by the state (from previous limits to a new cap of 4,999 voters per precinct). Zwick said the change allowed some precinct consolidations, which officials say reduced equipment, staffing and storage costs.

On absentee ballots, Zwick said the permanent absentee list means officials automatically send ballots to registered voters on that list rather than requiring a fresh application each election: "If you're on that list, we're automatically sending you a ballot." She said nothing substantive has changed for household members returning another voter's absentee ballot; the practice of household members returning ballots remains in place and return signatures/processes continue as before.

Council members had no substantive objections and moved to receive and file the clerk's report. The motion to receive and file Zwick's report passed by voice/roll call vote.