With the Nov. 3 election on the horizon, clerks across the state of Michigan are preparing to make the voting process as smooth as possible. On top of executing her regular duties, Delta Charter Township Clerk Mary Clark has been raising awareness about the election process and the disinformation often surrounding it.
Clark has served as the Delta Charter Township clerk for twelve years, and recently as president of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks. In 2020, she was chosen as Michigan Township Clerk of the Year.
Spartan Newsroom Reporter Sydney MacNaughton spoke with Clark about the importance of election security, the lastings effects of the 2020 presidential election and what this next election could bring for local Delta residents, as well as for all Michiganders. Watch the interview here.
Q: You had written a letter to Congress and the state, about election reform. What exactly does that entail?
A: After prop 3 was passed in 2018, which was, No Reason AB, prior to that, only certain populations could vote absentee, and that proposal in 2018 allows anyone to vote by absentee ballot if they so choose. That, coupled with the pandemic in 2020, we saw just unbelievable numbers. For example, Delta Township, had 75% of our voters voted by absentee ballot in the 2020 election. And our permanent AB, absentee ballot application list has soared, it’s more than doubled. And we’re asking for basic things, like raising the number of active voters that you could have in any precinct. Right now, the law says 2,999, we asked for 5,000, negotiated and settled on 4,000, but still no action. And clerks want the ability at their discretion to change the numbers of voters in precincts based on how many of those voters are on the permanent application list.
Q: So it’s the state lawmakers who are keeping this from happening?
A: Oh, yes. The Senate introduced a multiple bill package – I think it was 43 bills – and they are what I consider restrictive – voter restrictive legislation. So, it’s frustrating. As clerks, we’re committed to the democratic process, we’re committed to serving our voters and to making it as easy and simple and secure as possible for our voters and we think we have done that. Clerks take an oath to support the constitution. We feel that we always have operated our elections with integrity, and it’s very disappointing to be under attack by some leadership.
Q: What do you think Michiganders can do to help keep elections democratic?
A: I think you have to look very carefully at who you’re voting for. I think you have to vote. Because every election and piece of the ballot matters. Who you’re voting for a judge position matters. If you’re voting for someone who supports the concept that our elections are flawed and our elections are dishonest, you’re perpetuating the problem. So people need to vote and they need to understand who they’re voting for, because who they’re voting for is what they’re voting for.
Q: Is your outlook on the general election in November positive?
A: I’m optimistic. I’ve done community elections classes to help them understand – I call them elections 101 – to understand the process. I’m optimistic that common sense and a commitment to our democratic process will prevail.
Q: Are you hopeful that all of the changes that you need will happen and that people will have more satisfaction in our elections?
A: I am a strong supporter of Proposal 2: Promote the Vote, which is a lot of voter protection. And training them in the Constitution is the only way to stop future legislative bodies from undermining our democratic process. So I hope everybody goes out and votes yes on that proposal.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to add?
A: Just asking people to really think about what they’re hearing, think about how logical and practical that really is. Michigan is one of the few states that has local control for elections. So a big conspiracy theory would require hundreds and hundreds of clerks and thousands and thousands of election workers and that’s not gonna happen. People are working elections, clerks have taken the position because they believe in our democratic process. And our country is dependent on a Democrat and Republican party that functions together. Together. That’s what our democracy is based on, and I hope we can get back to that.