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Remember the rules this time around when casting ballots

With a scant six days left until the Tuesday, Feb. 28 Michigan presidential primary election, it’s important for voters in west Oakland County — and, of course, across the Wolverine State — to remember some of the intricacies of this year’s process for selecting a Republican presidential nominee in order to make the process run as smoothly and with as few hiccups as possible.

This year, much as in 2008 — when former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (39 percent), a Republican, and then-U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (55 percent), a Democrat, finished at the top of their respective Michigan presidential primaries — the primary process will be closed, meaning that voters across west Oakland County and the state have to declare whether they want the Democratic or Republican ballot when they go to the polls on Feb. 28, or when applying for an absentee ballot. That’s not the same thing as registering as a member of that particular political party, but the record of which political party’s ballot the voter selects will be a matter of public record for a period of 22 months, according to Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Bill Bullard Jr.

And although the electorate went through largely the same process four years ago, some local and county officials have said they’ve experienced some confusion and backlash from voters who have given them grief over a process which area elections officials had no role in determining. Those interested in directing their ire somewhere should focus their eyes on Lansing, where state lawmakers last year approved the closed primary process.

Long story short? Give local clerks and elections workers some slack. They didn’t have anything to do with making the primary closed this year, and they will merely be doing their jobs in less than a week when you line up to cast your ballot for your preferred presidential candidate on the ballot of the party that you select.

Bullard said last month that just the name of Tuesday’s contest — a “primary election” — is throwing people off-base when it comes to the voting process. He said that the name leads people to believe that electors can go into a voting booth, look at both political sides of the ballot, and make a decision on the candidate who will best represent their beliefs. But that is not the case.

In terms of options for voters in west Oakland County’s 11 cities, villages, and townships, you’ll be facing only one choice: Who should be the Republican presidential nominee? According to the official candidate list from the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Elections Division, 11 Republican candidates — including those who have suspended their presidential campaigns or have formally withdrawn from the race — will be on the ticket, as well as President Barack Obama, the lone Democrat in that contest, although there is an option to vote “uncommitted.”

Voters in Oakland County will also have to weigh in on who will succeed former state Rep. Tim Melton, who left office last year to take a new job out of state and whose 29th state House District is outside of the lakes area — it includes Pontiac and Auburn Hills. In addition, Clawson and the Village of Franklin have millage proposals on the ballot, and Pontiac is asking its residents to decide on a city charter amendment. Ferndale Public Schools has a building and site sinking fund proposal it’s asking district residents to consider.

So the local electorate should have only two focuses — picking their preferred presidential candidate for the November general election, and making sure they abide by the rules set forth for Tuesday’s primary election. Doing so will only make your time spent at your precinct go more smoothly.

Voters flubbing up their absentee ballot applications, according to Bullard, has been an issue, but it becomes even more problematic when it happens at the actual polls. If that occurs, votes are spoiled. At the very least, that results in more headaches for elections workers and those waiting to cast their ballots.

Like it or not, rules are rules. Clerks of local cities and townships didn’t make them, nor did the election workers in those communities who will be toiling throughout the day at hundreds of precincts across Oakland County on Tuesday. If you’re disgruntled about picking a political party’s ballot, voice your opposition with the people who actually made the decision to institute those rules, not the ones who are enforcing them. And regardless of which horse you’re backing in the presidential primary race, voters need to remain cognizant of the requirements for casting their ballots less than a week from now. Being aware of — and abiding by — those rules will ensure a smooth, accurate, and as hassle-free as possible experience at the polls.

Questions about the process can be answered by calling the Oakland County Elections Division at 248-858-0564, your local clerk, or the Michigan Department of State at 517-373-2540.

One Response to Remember the rules this time around when casting ballots

  1. danemuhlig

    February 28, 2012 at 10:31 am

    ~Mormonism Not Christian

    Mormonism [Church of Latter Day Saints] is not Christian is because it denies the doctrines
    of Christianity. Mormonism denies that there is only one God, Jesus is God in flesh,
    forgiveness of sins is by grace, Jesus rose from the dead physically.
    God, One of Many Gods, is An Exalted Man, Who is Married with Many Wives
    Mormonism teaches that God is a an exalted man, that he used to be a man on another
    planet and he is only one of countless gods and that God is married and he brought one
    of his wives to this world and produces spirit children who then inhabit human bodies at birth.
    God Had Sex with Mary
    Mormons say God had sex with Mary and produced Jesus! According to Mormonism there
    was no virgin birth. “The Father came down from heaven…and begat the Savior of the World;
    for He is the Only Begotten of the Father which could not have been if the Father did not
    actually beget him in person…The birth of the Saviour was as natural as are the births of
    our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood.” (Brigham
    Young, Journal Of Discourses, Vol. 1 page 238 and8:115)
    Man Can Become God
    Mormons believe that man can become God! “The Lord created you and me for the purpose
    of becoming Gods like Himself.” Brigham Young (Journal Of Discourses 3:93).
    Jesus Was A Polygamist
    The reason people “persecuted Jesus Christ, was because he had so many wives; there were
    Elizabeth and Mary, and a host of others.” [Journal of Discourses, Vol 1. ppl 345-346] “The
    Scripture says the Lord, came walking in the Temple, with HIS TRAIN; I do not know who they
    were, unless his wives and children.” Brigham Young [Journal of Discourses,Vol.13.pg309]
    Jesus and Satan Are Spirit Brothers
    Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers. [Journal of Discourses, 93:21]
    Salvation through Joseph Smith
    “No man or woman in this dispensation will ever enter into the celestial kingdom of God
    without the consent of Joseph Smith…every man and woman must have the
    certificate of Joseph Smith.” [Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p.289-91]
    The Bible Is Not Infallible and Is Not Reliable
    Mormons teach that the Bible has many errors and is unreliable and was corrupted in
    translation and it is not infallible.They believe their Book of Mormon is God’s Word. It is
    “the most correct of any book on earth and the keystone of our religion.” Joseph Smith
    Polygamy Marriages in Heaven
    Mormon’s believe that you can be married to many wives in Heaven.
    Baptism for the Dead
    Mormon’s baptize people in water on behalf of dead people for the forgiveness of their sins.
    Mormon’s Holy Underwear
    Mormons have a Temple Ceremony where the person is given “Mormon
    Underwear” that is to protect them against the Evil One.

    Joseph Smith, Mormon Founder, Met Jesus
    In 1820 Mormon founder Joseph Smith was 14 years old and he said God the Father and
    Jesus met him outside of New York. Three years later he said an Angel named Moroni
    inspired him to write the Book of Mormon, which is “another Bible” and “new revelation” of
    Jesus Christ and it is about an ancient people who came from the middle east to the
    Americas. The Mormons follow 2 other books, Doctrine & Covenants & Pearl of Great Price.
    Joseph Smith Met John the Baptist
    In 1829 Joseph Smith said John the Baptist appeared to him and ordained him.
    Christians Are All Wrong…Their Creeds Are An Abomination
    Joseph Smith said, Christians were “all wrong… all their creeds were an admonition.”
    Joseph Smith Greater Than Jesus
    Smith said, “I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has
    ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam…Neither Paul,
    John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I”
    Joseph Smith:”I Am Impregnable…God is My Right Hand Man”
    Smith said, “The whole Earth shall bear me witness that I, like the towering rock in the
    midst of the ocean, am impregnable…I combat the errors of ages… I solve mathematical
    problems of universities, with truth, diamond truth; and God is my right hand man…
    you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves,”
    Brigham Young, Mormon’s 2nd Prophet, Creates New Scriptures
    Young said, “I have never yet preached a sermon and sent it out that they may not call
    Scripture. Let me have the privilege of correcting a sermon, and it is as good a scripture”
    Mormon Polygamy
    After 1852, when the Mormon Church was openly practicing polygamy, the leaders of the
    church were declaring that it was absolutely essential for exaltation. A revelation given by
    Joseph Smith, “Ten virgins given unto him [Solomon] by this law, he cannot commit
    adultery…therefore is he justified.”
    Joseph Smith A Polygamist…An Adulterer…and A Pedophile
    Joseph Smith had 33 wives! He married several who were married to other men.” Nancy
    Marinda Johnson married Joseph Smith while her husband, Orson Hyde, was on a
    mission to Jerusalem.” Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner, the wife of Adam Lightner,
    said that Joseph claimed an “angel” came with a “drawn sword” and told him that if
    he did not enter into polygamy “he would slay him.”
    Joseph Smith’s youngest wife, Helen Mar Kimball, was 14 years old!!!!
    Joseph Smith Wife Damned If She Doesn’t Accept Polygamy
    Joseph Smith prophesied his first and only legal wife Emma would be damned
    or destroyed if she did not accept polygamy (Doctrine & Covenants 132).
    Brigham Young 55 Wives and 57 Children
    Brigham Young, the 2nd Prophet of Mormonism had 55 wives and 57 children!!
    Must Commit Polygamy to Become Gods
    Brigham Young said, “The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are
    those who enter into polygamy.” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 11,269) “If you want to
    become a god one day you must violate the already given law of God now.
    “[Doctrine and Covenants132 Verses 62-63]
    Must Commit Polygamy or You Will Be Damned and Not Enter God’s Glory
    “He that abideth not this law (polygamy) can in no wise enter into my glory, but
    shall be damned, saith the Lord.” (D&C,132:27). “Now if any of you deny the
    plurality of wives, I promise that you will be damned.” Brigham Young
    Mormonism is Not Christian
    “Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”[Jesus Christ,Mt.24:11]

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