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Time to register to vote

Date Posted: June 11 2004

In the 2000 presidential election, voters from union households represented 26 percent of all U.S. voters. But in Michigan, which was a key political battleground state that year, 43 percent of all voters were members of union households, a percentage which led the nation.

No doubt that turnout helped Al Gore defeat George Bush in Michigan, but that was then and this is now. Winning political battles is a continual process, and once again in 2004, with the country evenly divided politically, Michigan is one of a handful of states that is up for grabs and will ultimately chose the president.

Organized labor’s vote will be vital once again this year. The first step is getting registered, and if you aren’t, now is as good a time as any.

This is an especially important year. Voters will have the opportunity to elect our nation’s next president, Members of Congress as well as numerous county officials, local judges, and mayoral and city council members.

Voter registration is easy. To register, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old by election day and a Michigan resident. Any Secretary of State branch office or county, city or township clerk’s office can register you. In addition, specified agencies providing services through the Family Independence Agency, the Department of Community Health, the Michigan Jobs Commission, and military recruitment centers also provide voter registration services.

You may also register to vote by mail – forms are available at your local clerk’s office or from the Secretary of State web site (www.michigan.gov/sos) and click on the voter registration link on the right). If you register to vote by mail, and you have moved to a new voting jurisdiction or are registering for the very first time, you must vote in person in the first election in which you participate. The only exceptions are if you are 60 years old or older, disabled as defined by law or temporarily living overseas.

You also have the option of registering to vote when you renew your driver license by mail. Eligible drivers receive a voter registration application in the mail with their driver license renewal information.

Register for any federal, state and local elections by mail or by visiting your city, county or township clerk’s office or any of the 178 Secretary of State branch offices.

The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before Election Day, with the next statewide voting taking place on Aug. 3. Once you register to vote, you can request an absentee ballot if you are 60 or older, disabled, or expect to be out of town on Election Day.

There are 6.8 million registered voters in Michigan, and only about half of them vote during presidential election years, although there was greater turnout in 2000. We urge you and your family to become registered, then vote in 2004.