INSIDER
Judge denies motion to dismiss felony charges in Michigan against 2 men accused of voter-suppression robocalls
Read full article: Judge denies motion to dismiss felony charges in Michigan against 2 men accused of voter-suppression robocallsDETROIT โ A judge has rejected a motion to quash information and dismiss a case against two men accused of orchestrating robocalls meant to discourage Michigan voters from voting by mail in the 2020 presidential election, making false claims. According to the Michigan Attorney Generalโs Office, the case remains pending in the Third Circuit Court against Jack Burkman, 54, and Jacob Wohl, 22. โI think that this does not qualify as... a violation of the First Amendment in this context,โ Van Houten said. AdAccording to officials, an investigation revealed that the robocalls had been reported in Detroit and a number of other cities across New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois. For Detroit, the calls specifically targeted residents -- nearly 12,000 -- with a 313 area code back in August.
Birmingham mayor casts deciding vote to re-appoint himself
Read full article: Birmingham mayor casts deciding vote to re-appoint himselfBIRMINGHAM, Mich. โ The city of Birmingham is going through a lot of flux. The city manager of 24 years decided to move on, so did the assistant city manager and a number of department heads. READ: Michigan General Election Results for Birmingham on Nov. 3, 2020On Monday night, the Birmingham City Council held a Zoom meeting. At the beginning, Mayor Pro Tem Therese Longe gave a plaque to Mayor Pierre Boutros for his impressive first term. Another council member expressed the same concern.
Photos: This is what โstop the countโ protests look like across the country
Read full article: Photos: This is what โstop the countโ protests look like across the country(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Trump supporters gather for a demonstration outside the TCF Center on Nov. 6, 2020 in Detroit. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Trump supporters gather for a demonstration outside the TCF Center on Nov. 6, 2020 in Detroit. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Supporters of President Trump hold signs and chant slogans during a protest outside the Philadelphia Convention Center. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)Supporters of President Trump yell at a counter protester at the Maricopa County Elections Department office on Nov. 6, 2020 in Phoenix. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images) (2020 Getty Images)
Nevada is taking forever to count its votes, so of course, the internet made memes
Read full article: Nevada is taking forever to count its votes, so of course, the internet made memesItโs been exhausting waiting for the results of the 2020 election to come in, but there has been one good thing that has come out of all this: The memes. Specifically, the memes about Nevada. So without further ado, here are the best memes floating around the internet -- that will surely give you a much-needed laugh. Nevada: pic.twitter.com/XldmGVrex6 โ ๐งโโ๏ธ (@JafarTheGenie_) November 5, 2020This is how Nevada counts ballots pic.twitter.com/JQFy83B2WV โ Max Burns (@themaxburns) November 5, 2020Live footage of Nevada working on those ballots pic.twitter.com/14RrZ2Ce8w โ Miss Cuffy, Unstable Genius๐ฅ๐ฅ (@MissGFYCuffy) November 5, 2020Nevada after counting 113 ballots in one day. pic.twitter.com/JAkgsBNT2p โ Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) November 5, 2020And finally...
Election results: What states are we still waiting on, and why? A breakdown
Read full article: Election results: What states are we still waiting on, and why? A breakdownA handful of pivotal states remained in play Thursday in the tightly contested U.S. presidential race. But there are outstanding ballots left to be counted in the coming days. North CarolinaThe situationWith ballots left to count, the race is too early to call. As long as those ballots are postmarked by Nov. 3, state election officials have until Nov. 12 to count them. And when it comes to mail ballots, Biden was outperforming Trump.
Campaign pups throughout the years: These 11 photos will make you crack a smile
Read full article: Campaign pups throughout the years: These 11 photos will make you crack a smileWe found the following 11 photos from Getty Images, and we thought they were worth a share. (Getty Images)Pierre, a 5-year-old basset hound, apparently is a loyal fan of then-President Johnson -- and was happy to pose with a campaign button. (Getty Images)A dog wears a campaign sticker for Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden during a campaign stop at the Buttercup diner on March 3, 2020 in Oakland, California. This photo was taken in front of the White House as the pups wore campaign buttons for Lyndon B. Johnson for President. (Getty Images)In Honolulu, Hawaiian women are seen casting their votes during a presidential election -- and even a dog doesn't dare peek.
9 photos that prove Election Day 2020 was different than any other in recent years
Read full article: 9 photos that prove Election Day 2020 was different than any other in recent yearsThereโs no doubt that Election Day this year was one for the books. After record-setting early voting, people still showed up in droves on Election Day to cast their ballot. Below are 10 photos -- all from Getty Images -- that give an indication of how different this Election Day looked. (2020 Getty Images)Protesters march through the streets around Black Lives Matter Plaza on Nov. 3 in Washington DC. (2020 Getty Images)Did you feel things were different this year?
Sarah McBride becomes the first openly transgender person to be elected state senator
Read full article: Sarah McBride becomes the first openly transgender person to be elected state senatorWhile most Americans continued awaiting the presidential election results, history was silently being made in Delaware. Sarah McBride, 30, made history on election night by becoming the first openly transgender person to be elected to the state Senate in U.S. history. โI hope tonight shows an LGBTQ kid that our democracy is big enough for them, too,โ McBride tweeted Tuesday night after the election was called. McBride is a former spokesperson for the LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign and also became the first trans person to speak at a major political convention. McBride will represent parts of Bellefonte, Claymont and Wilmington, the stateโs largest city.
The world waits nervously, impatiently for US vote count
Read full article: The world waits nervously, impatiently for US vote countThe world is watching as millions of Americans cast their ballots for the next president on Tuesday. โIn the American system, the last vote counts, and maybe the last vote changes the result," Borrell told Spanish National Television. "The battle over the legitimacy of the result โ whatever it will look like โ has now begun,โ said the German defense minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. โAfrica used to learn American democracy, America is now learning African democracy,โ tweeted Nigerian Sen. Shehu Sani, reflecting a common view from some on a continent long used to troubled elections and U.S. criticism of them. ___AP journalists around the world contributed to this story.
These celebrities are proudly showing off their โI Votedโ stickers
Read full article: These celebrities are proudly showing off their โI Votedโ stickersCelebrities -- theyโre just like us. Well, not really, but they definitely vote, and they definitely post selfies on Election Day with their โI Votedโ sticker. Here are a few celebs who have let social media know they are exercising their constitutional right to have their voice heard. Laura DernSnoop DoggJessica AlbaNatalie PortmanJennifer LopezCharlize TheronBlake Lively and Ryan ReynoldsDemi LovatoDrew BarrymoreLizzoMariah CareyKerry WashingtonAshlee Simpson RossReese WitherspoonHalle BerryNick JonasSelena GomezBrittany SnowJimmy FallonJoe Jonas
These are the states to watch closely on election night
Read full article: These are the states to watch closely on election nightThe former vice president is competitive in all the battleground states Trump carried in 2016, and has put a handful of traditional Republican states, including Georgia and Arizona, in play. Grab the binoculars and focus on these 10 states as election returns start rolling in:Florida: 29 electoral votesAll eyes are on Florida, a swing state known for razor-thin election tallies. If Trump doesnโt win Florida, heโs going to have a rough time capturing enough states to stay in office. As early voting began in the state, Biden expanded his ad buys into every corner of Ohio. Trump won Arizona in 2016, but it is no longer an ironclad GOP stalwart.
In-person voters: Did you encounter any issues while voting in Michigan Tuesday?
Read full article: In-person voters: Did you encounter any issues while voting in Michigan Tuesday?If you voted in person in Michigan for the presidential election, did you encounter any issues? What concerns do you have? Let us know using the form below:More: 2020 General Election Coverage
AP VoteCast: Voters split on virus, economy, even football
Read full article: AP VoteCast: Voters split on virus, economy, even footballAmong the few shared views in the two camps of voters: Trump has changed the way things work in Washington. Most Trump voters say he has changed Washington for the better; most Biden voters say he's changed it for the worse. And Biden voters overwhelmingly said the federal government should prioritize limiting the spread of the virus โ even if that damages the economy. About half of Trump voters called the economy and jobs the top issue facing the nation, while only 1 in 10 Biden voters named it most important. Trump voters remain adamant that the economy is in good shape: About three-quarters call national economic conditions excellent or good.
University of Michiganโs Ann Arbor campus quiet on Election Day morning
Read full article: University of Michiganโs Ann Arbor campus quiet on Election Day morningANN ARBOR โ University of Michiganโs central campus was fairly calm after the polls opened on Tuesday. Save for a small line at the Michigan League at 7:30 a.m., students were still only trickling in to polling places on campus by late morning. According to Michiganโs Secretary of State, 7,067 new voters had registered as of Oct. 26 in the city of Ann Arbor. Sophomore Ali Chesnick campaigns for Joe Biden on the University of Michigan Diag on Nov. 3, 2020. It is definitely something I would recommend for the future, even after coronavirus.โLocal children hand out free snacks to voters on University of Michigan's campus on Nov. 3, 2020.
Battleground races weโre watching across the U.S. today
Read full article: Battleground races weโre watching across the U.S. todayPolitical teams across Graham Media Group are watching โbattlegroundโ races in Texas, Florida, Michigan and Virginia. TEXASThe entire state of Texas itself is something of a battleground with Democrats holding onto a longshot hope of turning the long-red state blue. Hereโs a report from KPRC2 in Houston and KSAT in San Antonio on competitive districts in the Lone Star state:Follow all Texas results on Click2Houston and KSAT.com. Follow all Florida results on News4Jax, ClickOrlando and Local 10 (Miami). Follow Virginia results on WSLS.com.
Hereโs what voting looks like across the nation today
Read full article: Hereโs what voting looks like across the nation todayHereโs what voting across the nation looks like today -- one of the most historic election days in recent history. (2020 Getty Images)Would-be voters learn they are not registered at their precinct at the O.P. (2020 Getty Images)Voters cast their ballot at The Orpheum Theater on Nov. 3 in Madison, Wisconsin. (2020 Getty Images)Voters stand in ballot boxes at the Kentucky Exposition Center on Nov. 3 in Louisville, Kentucky. (2020 Getty Images)
Celebrities whoโve been vocal about their support for Trump or Biden this election season
Read full article: Celebrities whoโve been vocal about their support for Trump or Biden this election seasonSome people think that celebrities should stay out of politics, but that hasnโt stopped these famous people from throwing their support behind Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden or current President Donald Trump. Celebs supporting Trump:Kirstie AlleyThe outspoken actress tweeted a couple weeks ago that she was supporting the incumbent president in the upcoming election. Celebrities supporting Biden:Taylor SwiftAfter staying silent about who she was voting for in the 2016 election, Swift has made it very known that she is supporting Biden in this yearโs race. Chris EvansCaptain America himself has been working around the clock, it seems, to get people motivated to get out the vote this election. He has critiqued the current administration on Twitter and thrown his support behind Biden.
13 comfort food and cocktail recipes to make if youโre super stressed on election night
Read full article: 13 comfort food and cocktail recipes to make if youโre super stressed on election nightIt doesnโt matter who or what youโre voting for in the 2020 election, if anything is clear, itโs that Americans are STRESSED about the results.
Save time at the polls with Ann Arborโs Election Day Line Tracker
Read full article: Save time at the polls with Ann Arborโs Election Day Line TrackerANN ARBOR โ Did you know that you can check the status of the line at your precinct? With Ann Arborโs Election Day Line Tracker, you can search for your precinct and see how long the wait is before you head out the door. The line tracker will show how many people are in line and give you an estimated wait time. Another cool feature? When you search for a precinct, the feature will pull up a picture of the polling place building and a link to directions on Google Maps so you can be sure youโre going to the right place.
A look at the weather on Election Day dating back nearly 3 decades
Read full article: A look at the weather on Election Day dating back nearly 3 decadesSo, I thought it would be interesting to compare this yearโs Election Day weather to what weโve had in past years. Weather statistics are from Metro Airport and for perspective, our Election Day average high is 54 degrees, and our Election Day average low is 38 degrees:November 8th, 2016: Donald Trump vs. Hillary Rodham ClintonWe had a pretty dreary day for this election, with clouds, some early morning fog, and periodic light rain. November 5th, 1996: Bill Clinton vs. Bob DoleThis Election Day was dry, but cloudy. BushNot a bad day to vote, with partly cloudy skies, although it was breezy. Track the live Michigan Weather Radar hereTrack severe weather alerts hereSubmit storm photos hereFind more weather forecast articles at Weather Center
5 ways you can help fight misinformation on Election Day
Read full article: 5 ways you can help fight misinformation on Election DayAs Election Day finally arrives it is going to be easy to feel overwhelmed by the volume of information being aimed at every single voter in the country. As polls open here are five things to watch for on Election Day 2020:Many, many reports, photos, and videos of long lines. You can also share what you are seeing with the Trust Index team and weโll get to work on it. Use the Trust Index form to send it to trained fact-checkers for review and possible debunking on a newscast or online. The Trust Index team fact checks questionable information circulating on social media and in our communities.
This is Michiganโs rule on selfies at polling stations
Read full article: This is Michiganโs rule on selfies at polling stationsWe understand documenting that youโve voted is important to a lot of people โ especially when you get that โI Votedโ sticker. You should be proud of yourself for casting your vote, but know that there are strict rules in some places when it comes to taking pictures at polling places. Because of that, voters should wait until they are more than that distance from the location. Voters should always practice courtesy and common sense, and you can always ask a poll worker to specify what the rules are. When in doubt, just wait until youโre back in your car to snap that โI Votedโ sticker selfie.
A terminally ill woman mailed in her ballot. Now, after her death, her vote wonโt be counted.
Read full article: A terminally ill woman mailed in her ballot. Now, after her death, her vote wonโt be counted.Weโve heard of people out in droves who voted early or sent a mail-in ballot. Lines at early-voting precincts have had some crowds waiting hours -- but to cast a ballot, many find the time well-spent. Pflughoeft was fascinated with politics and determined to vote in the 2020 General Election, so she mailed in her ballot early. All the other states have various stipulations as to whether they will allow the ballot of a deceased person to count, such as when the person died and when the death is learned. However, if past elections are any indication, votes from people who pass away before Election Day generally donโt have an impact on the results, according USA Today.
Whatโs The Buzz talks about the importance of voting
Read full article: Whatโs The Buzz talks about the importance of votingElection Day is tomorrow and thatโs Whatโs The Buzz today. Tati Amare talked with some friends of the show all about the importance of voting, but they stayed away from politics. Joining in to talk about this were Blaine Fowler, the host of the Blaine Fowler Morning Show on 96.3 WDVD, Mimi Brown, a local author and motivational speaker, and AJ Williams, the managing editor of the Michigan Chronicle. The group discussed various topics including if Election Day should be a National holiday, They also talked about feelings of if you could date someone who doesnโt vote. Watch the video to see what the group had to say!
Share your โI Votedโ selfies with us, Ann Arbor!
Read full article: Share your โI Votedโ selfies with us, Ann Arbor!ANN ARBOR โ Election Day is here and we want to see you in your civic glory. Share your โI Votedโ selfies with us in the gallery below. Already voted absentee? Have a picture returning your ballot at the City Clerkโs Office or an official drop box? Enter your photos below:
Look back: Michiganโs 2020 Presidential Primary Election results for Biden, Trump
Read full article: Look back: Michiganโs 2020 Presidential Primary Election results for Biden, TrumpHere are the results for Democratic and Republican candidates running for U.S. President in Michigan on March 10, 2020:View: More results from Michiganโs March 10, 2020 Primary Election
Washtenaw County community leaders issue joint statement on election safety, integrity
Read full article: Washtenaw County community leaders issue joint statement on election safety, integrityANN ARBOR โ Leaders in Washtenaw County issued a joint statement on Friday morning expressing concern over safety as voters drop off their ballots and head to the polls on Tuesday. The contentious environment surrounding the election and its aftermath, as well as feedback from community leaders, has the group worried about what voters might experience this election. The statement was issued by the Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Milan, Northfield, Saline, Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University and University of Michigan police departments, the Washtenaw County Sheriffโs Office, Washtenaw County, Michigan State Police and Rep. Debbie Dingell. "To that end, please note the following;โข Washtenaw County Clerk, Larry Kestenbaum has consulted with all of the local election officials to ensure voting integrity. โข Local law enforcement leaders in consultation with the municipal and township elected/appointed leaders have developed strategies that support post-election community safety.
Is there a racial divide when it comes to length of the voting lines?
Read full article: Is there a racial divide when it comes to length of the voting lines?Is there a racial divide when it comes to voting wait times at precincts? In 2016, white voters waited an average of 10 minutes, according to a survey of voters conducted by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In comparison, Black voters waited an average of 16 minutes and Latino voters were in line an average of 13 minutes, according to the survey. During the 2018 election, Black voters waited an average of 11.5 minutes, Latino voters an average of 11.7 minutes and white voters an average of 8.8 minutes, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. In precincts with 90% or more non-white voters, the average wait time was 32.4 minutes and the median was 13.3 minutes.
Photos show Trump, Biden throughout the years, and their lives look quite different
Read full article: Photos show Trump, Biden throughout the years, and their lives look quite differentWhether you are a supporter of President Donald Trump, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden or someone else, thereโs no doubt the two main candidates have led quite different lives. We see pictures nearly every day of the nominees on the road, aiming to gain more votes through rallies and small gatherings. However, we thought it might be interesting to take a peek into what their lives looked like in earlier years. All photos below are copyright Getty Images.
Election Night Coverage on Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit
Read full article: Election Night Coverage on Local 4 and ClickOnDetroitStay with Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit on Election Night for Special Coverage on everything you need to know. Weโll have local and national results, proposals affecting your neighborhood, and everything in between. Live coverage starts as polls close in Michigan. Interactive Maps and a Balance of Power map (in the U.S. Congress and Michigan legislature), an Electoral College map, and a Michigan County-by-County map (color/heat map). Special Coverage from Local 4 anchors and reporters live on election night to bring you the latest information around the state.
These are the ballot machines and systems available in Michigan
Read full article: These are the ballot machines and systems available in MichiganIn Michigan, the state uses Hart Voting Systems, Dominion Voting Systems and ES&S Voting Systems. Click or tap on the countyโs name and you learn youโll be using Hart Voting Systems. This page will tell you exactly what that means: How to mark a Hart ballot (youโll completely darken the box next to each ballot choice as shown), how to use a Hart Voter Assist Terminal, and how to work a Hart Verity Tabulator. The precinct worker will tear off the ballot stub and instruct the voter to feed the ballot into the tabulator.โ And there you have it. The same details are available for the other systems, Dominion Voting and ES&S Voting.
6 days until the election: Will we know who won on election night?
Read full article: 6 days until the election: Will we know who won on election night?That is going to produce results coming in at very different times -- perhaps days or even weeks after Election Day. Processing early ballotsIn some places, election officials can begin processing ballots weeks before Election Day. So on Nov. 3, Election Day, officials will have to run an in-person election while also working through the unprecedented number of mail-in votes. Republicans, including Trump's campaign, have been filing lawsuits to stop election officials from counting ballots that are delivered after Election Day. Also, Pennsylvania doesnโt allow early processing of mail-in ballots, further complicating matters.
5 times in which a U.S. president was elected, but lost the popular vote
Read full article: 5 times in which a U.S. president was elected, but lost the popular voteSince the Electoral College was established as the means of electing a president, it hasnโt been often when a president won the election without winning the popular vote. Despite the fact that Jackson had more electoral votes and won the popular vote, the House voted Adams as President. Cleveland ended up winning the popular vote by more than 90,000 votes, but Harrison won the electoral vote, 233-168. That gave Bush a 271-266 win in the electoral vote, even though Gore won the popular vote by roughly 500,000 more votes. But the electoral vote was a completely different matter, with Trump earning 304 votes to Clintonโs 227.
November Madness: Fill out your 2020 election โbracketโ
Read full article: November Madness: Fill out your 2020 election โbracketโUse the survey below to predict the outcome of the U.S. Presidential election, plus the race for Senate and House. As results come in, weโll report back on the wisdom of the crowd and share your insights on the election. After we learn the outcome, weโll search back through the predictions and shout out the prognosticators who got things right. You can also see some early results on how people feel the election will turnout. One small reminder: Weโre looking for predictions, not how you want the election to go.
LIVE: See the most up-to-date tweets from Trump and Biden right here
Read full article: LIVE: See the most up-to-date tweets from Trump and Biden right hereWe donโt need to tell you that 2020 has been an epic election year. If youโve kept an eye on social media to stay up to date on all the election happenings, youโve likely been watching the feeds of President Donald Trump and Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden. They both address issues, as well as, at times, take jabs at one another. Regardless, itโs one of the best ways to stay up to date on whatโs happening with both nominees. If you want to keep an eye on the latest tweets from both Trump and Biden, weโve got them for you right here.
Report finds Detroit has nationโs slowest mail delivery, raising concerns about absentee ballots
Read full article: Report finds Detroit has nationโs slowest mail delivery, raising concerns about absentee ballotsDETROIT โ With hundreds of thousands of votes already cast, a recent report on the United States Postal Service found that Detroit has the slowest mail in the country. The issue is raising concern about whether ballots already in the mail will be counted by Election Day. New numbers from the United States Postal Service are raising alarm about absentee votes already in the mail. The data released by order of a federal judge showed Metro Detroit has the slowest average delivery nationwide stretching into October. Gretchen Whitmer spoke to Local 4 News on Sunday ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.
Washtenaw County Health Department updates U-M undergrad stay-in-place order
Read full article: Washtenaw County Health Department updates U-M undergrad stay-in-place orderANN ARBOR โ The Washtenaw County Health Department has announced two updates to its stay-in-place order for undergraduates at the University of Michigan. The Health Department and U-M leadership announced the emergency order on Tuesday due to rising cases of COVID-19 on campus. (1/2) https://t.co/okVBqcXUcj โ Washtenaw County Health Department (@wcpublichealth) October 23, 2020โ Like what youโre reading? The Health Department urged students to observe strict social distancing, continue to wear masks in public spaces and wash hands frequently. According to the departmentโs website, violators of these orders could face fines from $500-$1000.
Take our quiz to rate your feelings on the final presidential debate
Read full article: Take our quiz to rate your feelings on the final presidential debateWith less than two weeks before one of the biggest Election Days in history, Republican incumbent nominee, President Donald Trump, and Democratic nominee and former vice president Joe Biden met at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, for the second and final presidential debate. The debate, which appeared to be a little more constructive than the last, was moderated by Kristen Welker of NBC News. What did you think of responses and ideas presented by Biden and Trump? Let us know your reaction by clicking on an emoji below each statement that was made.
New Biden campaign ad spotlights Ann Arborโs The Blind Pig
Read full article: New Biden campaign ad spotlights Ann Arborโs The Blind PigโFor 50 years the Blind Pig has been open and crowded, but right now itโs an empty room,โ Malcoun said in the ad. โEverybody, including me, has a story of that band they saw at The Blind Pig,โ Malcoun told A4 in a 2018 interview. According to the Biden campaign, the Beastie Boys broke their yearslong anti-ad streak by allowing the campaign to use their song โSabotageโ in the video. This is really good from the Biden campaign, featuring the owner of "The Blind Pig" in Ann Arbor. According to the Biden campaign, the ad was taken down due to threats against Malcoun and his family.
Watch live: Trump holds campaign rally in Arizona
Read full article: Watch live: Trump holds campaign rally in ArizonaAll rights reserved.) โ President Donald Trump will hold a Make America Great Again campaign rally at 3 p.m. in Prescott, Arizona. You can watch the Arizona based rally in the video player below. Trump took aim at Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer when he visited Michigan Saturday.
Ann Arbor satellite clerkโs office at U-M registers thousands to vote
Read full article: Ann Arbor satellite clerkโs office at U-M registers thousands to voteANN ARBOR โ The City Clerkโs satellite office inside the University of Michiganโs Museum of Art has registered more than 2,600 students to vote since opening on Sept. 22. First-time voter and U-M junior Riley Friedman said his experience at the satellite office on campus was quick and easy. She is part of a team of 40 students who volunteer at the satellite office, who also volunteer at the U-M Ginsberg Center. The satellite office was launched by U-M Stamps School of Art & Design professors Stephanie Rowden and Hannah Smotrich to increase voter turnout. U-M in Ann Arbor tripled its student voting rate in 2018 at 41%, compared to 14% in 2014.
U-M election security expert: Five ways to keep your vote secure
Read full article: U-M election security expert: Five ways to keep your vote secureUniversity of Michigan professor of computer science and engineering J. Alex Halderman is one of the countryโs foremost election security experts. But some jurisdictions have begun using ballot-marking devices for every voter. If you vote using a ballot-marking device, scrutinize the printout and tell a poll worker if any selection isnโt right. All voters in Arkansas, South Carolina, Georgia, Californiaโs Los Angeles County and Philadelphia will vote using ballot-marking devices. Donโt vote onlineThereโs pressure on election officials to provide easier ways to vote remotely this year.
Electoral College vs. the popular vote: Why either can outweigh the other on any given election year
Read full article: Electoral College vs. the popular vote: Why either can outweigh the other on any given election yearHave you ever wondered why is it that one candidate can win the popular vote but another wins the electoral vote, and thus, the presidency? Four candidates in history have won a majority of the popular vote only to be denied the presidency by the Electoral College. That includes Hillary Clinton, who had the largest popular vote margin of any losing presidential candidate in U.S. history. Graphic shows scenario in which a presidential candidate can win the popular vote but lose the election. It would take a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College -- an unlikely move because of how difficult it is to pass and ratify constitutional changes.
Voting absentee in 2020 election? How to find your Michigan drop box
Read full article: Voting absentee in 2020 election? How to find your Michigan drop boxNo postage is required to return your Michigan absent voter ballot in person. Remember: The back of the envelope containing the completed absent voter ballot must be signed by the voter or it will not be counted. Mail your ballotYou can return your completed absent voter ballot by mailing it to your local clerkโs office. For this reason, we are recommending mailing in your completed absent voter ballot as soon as possible ahead of Election Day. Postage will be required to return your Michigan absent voter ballot by mail.
Ann Arbor City Clerkโs Office extends hours in October
Read full article: Ann Arbor City Clerkโs Office extends hours in OctoberANN ARBOR โ With the general election just 26 days away, the Ann Arbor City Clerkโs office announced it will be open extended hours every Wednesday through the end of the month. Wednesday hours at Larcom City Hall are now 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Starting tonight, Ann Arbor City Clerkโs Office at Larcom City Hall, 301 E. Huron St., is open extended hours every Wednesday in October - 8 a.m.-7 p.m.! https://t.co/uwXQqekwRQ #A2Votes โ City of Ann Arbor (@A2GOV) October 7, 2020The clerkโs office will also be open on the last two Saturdays of the month (Oct. 24 and 31) from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.Larcom City Hall is at 301 E. Huron St.Also new this year, the city clerkโs office has set up a satellite office at the University of Michigan Museum of Art. All residents are welcome to visit the office located inside the first floor Stenn Gallery at 525 S. State St.For more information about voting in Ann Arbor, visit the cityโs election website.
5 questions we hope youโll weigh in on, following the Pence-Harris debate
Read full article: 5 questions we hope youโll weigh in on, following the Pence-Harris debateWednesday nightโs vice presidential debate between current Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Kamala Harris was quite different than the debate we saw between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden. We watched Pence and Harris take on some major issues, and really, we just want to know from you: Whatโs your take? How do you think it went? Weโd love to hear your answer to the following questions.
Michigan voters consider adding tech devices to search warrant rule
Read full article: Michigan voters consider adding tech devices to search warrant ruleDETROIT โ Michigan voters are being asked to amend the state constitution by requiring a search warrant before police examine a wireless phone or other electronic devices. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2014 said warrants are necessary in an age when phones and computers are loaded with sensitive information. Michigan would join 12 states with similar provisions, according to the Citizens Research Council of Michigan. It represents strong protections for electronic data,โ said Bill Vailliencourt, the Livingston County prosecutor and past president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan. โIf the U.S. Supreme Court were ever to change its interpretation of the Fourth Amendment, this would provide separate protection,โ he said.
โWhy am I here?โ 5 especially memorable lines from election debates of the past
Read full article: โWhy am I here?โ 5 especially memorable lines from election debates of the pastIn the 1992 presidential election, independent candidate Ross Perot had what at the time was deemed an unusual selection for his running mate, retired Navy Admiral James Stockdale. Bush, who served as Reaganโs vice president, easily won the 1988 presidential election over Michael Dukakis. โI served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, youโre no Jack Kennedy,โ Bentsen said.
Michigan chooses simple design for absentee ballots
Read full article: Michigan chooses simple design for absentee ballotsDETROIT โ For this election a record number of Michigan residents have already started the process of filling out their absentee ballots. In November millions are expected to vote by mail and thatโs where the Center for Civic Design comes in. On its website the Maryland based group says civic design is about making every meeting between a citizen and the government effective and pleasant. The state didnโt have to pay Center for Civic Design a dime for its work. The state then just has to pay to print the absentee ballots, which it would have done anyway.
Ready to vote but need a ride? This company says itโs stepping in to help
Read full article: Ready to vote but need a ride? This company says itโs stepping in to helpAnd just like every election year, itโs of the utmost importance that citizens cast their ballot in this yearโs election. If youโve registered but are already concerned about how you will make it to a polling station, the ride-sharing company Uber wants to step in and lend a hand. As Election Day approaches, and as part of its โGet Out the Voteโ campaign, the company aims to help people find their polling location, as well as offer discounted rides to and from the poll during early voting. โAs we look ahead to this yearโs election, we are committed to doing our part to make sure every citizen has access to vote,โ Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said. Uber officials said as Election Day nears, people will begin to have access to important information in the app.
Watch live: Biden delivers remarks in Philadelphia
Read full article: Watch live: Biden delivers remarks in PhiladelphiaDETROIT โ Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is scheduled to delivers remarks in Philadelphia beginning 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20. You can watch him campaign there in the video player below. On Tuesday Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris will campaign in Flint and Detroit, the Biden-Harris campaign announced Sunday. The presidential election is taking place Tuesday, Nov. 3. READ MORE: Decision 2020 election coverageLIVE COVERAGE
A state-by-state breakdown: Exactly how the nation is handling voting, early voting
Read full article: A state-by-state breakdown: Exactly how the nation is handling voting, early votingReally -- did you realize, in some areas, early voting begins in the next week? Some areas have opted out of in-person voting altogether -- Connecticut, Mississippi and South Carolina, to name a few -- but many are still encouraging early voting. People are opting to vote early โ where theyโre able โ due to factors including coronavirus fears and doubts about the reliability of voting by mail. As more people are interested in voting by mail, only about 30% say they are โvery confidentโ their mail-in vote will be counted accurately, according to the poll. Below is a breakdown of how voting is being handled in each state across the U.S.Scroll over the map below to see which states are opening early voting.
State, local officials clarify voting law in wake of President Trump's comments
Read full article: State, local officials clarify voting law in wake of President Trump's commentsState and local officials clarify voting law in wake of President Trump's commentsIf you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.
Michigan Secretary of State, Detroit city clerk team up for upcoming November election
Read full article: Michigan Secretary of State, Detroit city clerk team up for upcoming November electionDETROIT The Michigan Secretary of States Office and the Detroit city clerk are teaming to make sure every vote counts for the upcoming November general election. Presidential elections always bring a lot of energy, said Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey. Winfrey said her office and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson are working together to make sure every vote is counted. They are recruiting and training at least 6,000 election workers to make sure all 182 polling locations and 134 absentee counting boards are fully staffed. They will conduct physically distant in person training at Little Caesars Arena for new election workers to ensure election workers and staff are ready for Nov. 3.
A look at the gender gap when it comes to voting in presidential elections
Read full article: A look at the gender gap when it comes to voting in presidential electionsWomen wearing masks pose behind a voter registration table in Union Square as the city continues Phase 4 of re-opening following restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus on August 09, 2020 in New York City. Photo by Alexi RosenfeldAug. 18 marked the 100-year anniversary of the 19th Amendment being ratified, which changed elections forever. The 19th Amendment prohibits the state and federal government from denying the right of citizens to vote based on sex -- meaning, women became eligible to vote after previous years of discrimination at the polls. Since 1980, more women have voted in each presidential election than men, according to Statista. So, how much of a gap has there been between women and men voters in each presidential election of the century?
Jocelyn Benson expects unofficial Michigan Primary Election results mid-day Wednesday
Read full article: Jocelyn Benson expects unofficial Michigan Primary Election results mid-day WednesdayLANSING, Mich. As election results for Primary Day Tuesday slowly come in through the night and into the next day, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said she is already preparing for the November general election. About 1.6 million people submitted their absentee ballots out of 2 million who requested a ballot for the primary election, Benson said, which could delay the final unofficial results to mid-day Wednesday. Benson said roughly 46,000 absentee ballots were rejected in Marchs primary election because they arrived after the election date. Benson said Tuesdays election also showed her that the state will need to further prepare more people to work on election day. Benson addressed an incident in Detroit where election workers were not present at 7 a.m. to open the polling location.
Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission Application processing complete
Read full article: Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission Application processing completeLANSING, Mich. The Michigan Department of State has finished reviewing and processing the 9,367 completed and notarized applications submitted to serve on Michigans first Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, with more than 2,000 applications processed within the last two weeks. On Wednesday an independent accounting firm will conduct the random drawing of the 200 semi-finalists for the commission. Wednesdays random drawing will narrow the more than 9,000 applications down to 200 semi-finalists whose applications will be posted online. The final selection for the 13 commissioners 4 Republicans, 4 Democrats and 5 unaffiliated will take place in August. For a detailed breakdown of the final applicant pool, visit RedistrictingMichigan.org.
Here are the winning designs of Ann Arbors I Voted sticker contest
Read full article: Here are the winning designs of Ann Arbors I Voted sticker contestANN ARBOR The City Clerks Office has announced the winners of the citys 2020 I Voted sticker contest, launched earlier this year. Local artists, students and more were invited to submit their best designs ahead of the 2020 presidential election. The City Clerks Office hopes the local designed custom stickers will encourage voter turnout in the upcoming election season. Here are the winning designs, from the city of Ann Arbors website:Ann Arbor's 2020 "I Voted" sticker contest winners. (City of Ann Arbor)Judges included:Christopher Taylor, MayorJan Davies McDermott, Ann Arbor Citizens AcademyJonah Copi, Ann Arbor Public Art CommissionDirk Mayhew, Ann Arbor Citizens AcademyJennifer Sheppard, Ann Arbor Public SchoolsKelly Speth, Ann Arbor Citizens AcademyStephanie Rowden, UM School of Art & DesignLeah Cordero, Ann Arbor Citizens AcademyHannah Smotrich, UM School of Art & DesignJennifer Alexa, Deputy City ClerkSteve Gerhart, Deputy City ClerkCongratulations to the winners!
Michigan Department of State launches online absentee voter application
Read full article: Michigan Department of State launches online absentee voter applicationLANSING, Mich. The Michigan Department of States Bureau of Elections has launched an online platform to provide voters with another method of digitally submitting their absent voter ballot application at Michigan.gov/Vote. Clerks will be alerted of the request and be able to see the application and signature. After verification, local clerks are then able to mail the ballot to the voter within the appropriate timeframe for the election theyve requested to vote absentee. Voters must sign the ballot return envelope and the signature must be verified and matched to the voters record for the ballot to be counted. To fill out an online application, registered voters can visit Michigan.gov/Vote and click Apply for an Absent Voter Ballot Online.READ MORE ELECTION COVERAGE:
2020 Michigan Presidential Primary Election: How to view your sample ballot
Read full article: 2020 Michigan Presidential Primary Election: How to view your sample ballotRelated: What your 2020 Michigan primary election ballot will look like on March 10The millage first passed in 2012. The 2020 Michigan Presidential Primary Election is on Tuesday, March 10. The Michigan Secretary of State Voter Information Center allows you to: Verify your Voter Registration OR Find your Polling Place. Do I need my voter registration card in order to vote? The Voter Identification Card is for your reference and is not required to vote.
WATCH: Local 4โs Devin Scillian, NBCโs Chuck Todd discuss politics ahead of primary
Read full article: WATCH: Local 4โs Devin Scillian, NBCโs Chuck Todd discuss politics ahead of primaryDevin Scillian is equally at home on your television, on your bookshelf, and on your stereo. Devin anchors the evening newscasts for Local 4. Additionally, he moderates Flashpoint, Local 4's Sunday morning news program. He is also a best-selling author of children's books, and an award-winning musician and songwriter.
What happens if no Democratic candidate earns enough delegates for a nomination?
Read full article: What happens if no Democratic candidate earns enough delegates for a nomination?Even if one candidate has more delegates than the other, thatโs only a โplurality,โ not a majority, per party rules. Candidates who earned delegates, but have since dropped out of the race, can try to push their delegates onto another candidate. A candidate needs to earn 2,375 delegates on subsequent ballots to win the nomination. However, having a contested convention is something the Democratic National Committee will do its best to avoid in the coming months. The last time a contested convention occurred was in 1952.
Better late than never? Thereโs still time to make a plan, get to the polls -- even at the last minute
Read full article: Better late than never? Thereโs still time to make a plan, get to the polls -- even at the last minuteClick or tap here for deadlines in each state to register for the primary election and the general election in November. This is where you really want to start familiarizing yourself with your stateโs Secretary of State or Department of State website. People can be eligible to vote by mail if they are:Going to be away from their county on Election Day and during early voting. Absentee/mail-in ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots from voters overseas must be received by the fifth day after Election Day, while ballots from members of the armed forced must be received by the sixth day after Election Day.
Why so many differences? Breaking down the ballot process in the U.S.
Read full article: Why so many differences? Breaking down the ballot process in the U.S.These are the types of voting ballots and equipment used throughout the country, according to Ballotpedia:โข Optical Scan Paper Ballot Systems: Voters mark their votes by filling in an oval, box, or similar shape on a paper ballot. Paper ballots are later scanned either at the polling place or at a central location. โข Ballot Marking Devices and Systems: These systems are designed to help disabled voters who might be unable to vote using other methods. Rather than recording the vote into the computerโs memory, the ballot is instead marked on paper and later tabulated manually. โข Punch Card Voting Systems: These devices employ a paper card and a small clipboard device.
Can an impeached president run for re-election?
Read full article: Can an impeached president run for re-election?No matter what happens in this yearโs election, President Donald Trump has already made history in one way. While Trump is the third president ever to be impeached by the House of Representatives, he likely will be the first impeached president in history to be nominated by a political party to run for re-election. In short, the ability of Trump โ or any president who gets impeached, for that matter โ to seek re-election while impeached is entirely up to the Senate. This was never a scenario for the previous two presidents to be impeached by the House, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. Clinton was impeached in 1999 during his second term and wasnโt allowed to run for president again due to term limits.
President Trump holds first campaign rally of 2020 in Toledo
Read full article: President Trump holds first campaign rally of 2020 in ToledoPresident Trump holds first campaign rally of 2020 in ToledoPublished: January 9, 2020, 11:10 pmPresident Trumpโs first campaign rally of the year was in Toledo, Ohio.
#FREETHEVOTE: Make your voice heard in elections -- because others canโt
Read full article: #FREETHEVOTE: Make your voice heard in elections -- because others canโtDid you know there are instances in which a single number of votes were the deciding factor? Singer John Legend has founded a campaign called #FREETHEVOTE, which documents the visceral experiences of those who have had their right to vote taken away because of the current criminal justice system. Regardless, by using your voice to cast a vote in elections, you can speak for yourself and those who arenโt able to speak for themselves. And you never know when your single vote could be the one that sways an election. Click here to register to vote and to learn about requirements on Election Day.