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Boxes for Ballots Group works to add ballot drop boxes to more locales to s. accommodate absentee voters. SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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ith increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases and increasing complaints of mail delivery delays, a nonpartisan organization is working to make voting more convenient and comfortably accessible. The Michigan Election Reform Alliance (MERA) is advocating for an increase in the number of ballot drop boxes available across the state before the official election day of Nov. 3. Members also are advocating for ways to make sure registered voters know about them and their locations in each voting jurisdiction. Jan BenDor, statewide coordinator of MERA, is a former election administrator who became a voting rights activist after retirement and is leading her organization in anticipation of increasing numbers of absentee voters, resulting in part from the 2018 passage of state legislation permitting all registered voters the option of sending in their ballots. “People involved in advocating for voter rights are very passionate,” said BenDor, who recalls participating in an archaeological trip to Israel where she learned about ancient voters using pebbles to cast their preferences. “We realize opening voting opportunities saves our democracy, and it isn’t easy. “Drop boxes are among the most important issues in this year’s election because we have a perfect storm of problems. COVID19 makes it risky for people to come to a polling place, both for the voters and the poll workers, and we hear about so many
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DROP BOX VOTING STEPS 1.Request an absentee ballot from your city or township clerk. 2. Identify the locations and accommodations of drop boxes in the jurisdiction where you vote, either by calling the office of your city or township clerk or going to Michigan.gov/Vote and clicking on the “Who is my clerk?” choice. 3. Deposit the ballot as early as possible.
Jan BenDor at the ballot drop box in Superior Township.
problems with the U.S. Postal Service.” MERA members, active throughout the state, began their drop box efforts in March by conducting surveys of city and township clerks to determine the use of drop boxes in different voting jurisdictions. They wanted to know about the number of boxes, the capacity of each one, locations, availability for drive-up service, accessibility for people in wheelchairs and signage relevant to the boxes.
Brian Steinberg, who is leading the MERA drop box project, reminds voters they can access a state website (Michigan. gov/Vote) to make sure their ballots have been received. “I wrote my first email about drop boxes the day after the Wisconsin primary election,” said Steinberg, raised in a Jewish household with a strong voting ethic. “It was peak COVID-19, and they were trying to find ways to get people to vote without going to the polls. I saw all those huge lines around the block with people wearing masks, and I didn’t want to see that happening in Michigan. I centered on drop boxes as a great solution for people who were going to vote absentee to vote safely [and get their votes counted].” Although the MERA phone survey did not include all the voting jurisdictions in Michigan, members say they called enough
