Two issues on May 7 ballot From April 3rd County Press)

[William Gavette]

Lapeer County residents have until Monday to register to vote

BY PHIL FOLEY

810-452-2616 • mihomepaper.com

LAPEER COUNTY — If you live in Imlay City, Dryden Township or the village of Dryden and you’re not registered to vote, you have until Monday to register at your local clerk’s office to be eligible to vote in the May 7 election.

Dryden area voters will be asked to approve a two-mill tax to fund the Dryden Township Police Dept. from 2013 to 2017.

While the ballot proposal calls it a tax increase, Police Chief Larry Pack said a “yes” vote will only bring the tax rate back to what it was in 2005. He noted the Headlee Amendment has trimmed the millage down to 1.92 mills and that combined with a dramatic drop in area proper- ty values in recent years have slashed department revenues, while expenses have continued to climb.

In Imlay City, voters will be asked to elect four of eight people running for seats on the Imlay City Commission. Among those on the ballot on incumbents Mayor Margaret Guerrero- DeLuca, mayor pro-tem Walt Bargen and commissioner Timothy Kaiser. The challengers include Amy Darnell, Brian Hill, Amy Planck, Marty Rankin and Robert L. Tanis.

The top three vote getters in Imlay City’s May 7 election will earn fouryear terms on the city commission, while the fourth-place finisher will serve a two-year term.

Anyone interested in a write-in place on Imlay City’s May 7 election has until 4 p.m. April 26 to file their paperwork with the city clerk.

To register to vote in the May 7 election in Imlay City and Dryden Township, applicants must be at least 18 years old by Election Day and be U.S. citizens. Applicants must also be residents of Michigan and of the city or township in which they wish to register.

Voters may register by mail or in person at their county, city or township clerk’s office or by visiting any Secretary of State office. When registering in person, voters must present identification or sign an affidavit stating they do not have identification with them. The mail-in form is available at www.michigan.gov/elections. First-time voters who register by mail must vote in person in their first election, unless they hand-deliver the application to their local clerk, are 60 years old or older, are disabled or are eligible to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

To check their registration status, residents may visit the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote.Residents can also find information on absentee voting, Michigan’s voter identification requirement, how to use voting equipment and how to contact their local clerk.

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