FEBRUARY 18, 2005

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today reminded voters that the first election under Michigan’s new Consolidated Election law is Tuesday, Feb. 22.

Special elections will be held in 28 counties that will impact local school districts, intermediate school districts, community colleges, cities, villages, townships, counties and district library boards.

The law makes elections more efficient and cost-effective by limiting them to four a year. It also provides greater consistency, which allows voters to mark election dates on their calendars; reduces or eliminates election costs for school districts, and puts elections in the hands of local clerks, who are trained election professionals.

"Tuesday marks a new and exciting chapter in the story of Michigan’s highly respected election process," Land said. "Consolidating elections is a progressive and common-sense step. Our goal is to have more efficient, economical and inclusive elections. This law will help to get us there. I encourage voters to check to see if they reside in a district or jurisdiction that is conducting an election on February 22."

The need for the law is clear. Fewer than 5 percent of eligible voters in nearly half of Michigan school districts participated in the 2000 school board elections, according to the House Fiscal Agency. The turnout was 10 percent or less in three-quarters of the districts.

"We’re confident that the law will have a positive impact on voter turnout as more people become familiar with it," Land said.

The law was signed in December 2003 and garnered broad bipartisan support from such organizations as the Michigan Education Association, Michigan Townships Association, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Municipal League, the League of Women Voters, Michigan Association of County Clerks and the Council of Election Officials.

> Counties with Elections on February 22, 2005