“In precinct election turnout has decreased.”
Grand Rapids Clerk Joel Hondorp says more than half of the ballots in the city were cast before election day in November 2024.
“For this November 24 election 57 percent of the voters voted before election day. So, they either voted early or voted absentee.”
And because people are voting early or absentee Hondorp proposes eliminating 15 of the 74 in person polling places in the city, mostly by combining precincts that share the same location.
“Its multiple precincts in a single location we are combining together.”
But commissioner Kelsey Perdue does not support closing polling places:
“Voting is foundational we should be working to increase access, not make it more difficult to vote. We should be adding precincts making it more easy and more convenient for folks to vote.”
Hondorp is refining a precinct closing proposal for consideration and possible approval by the city commission. Commissioner Drew Robbins is a supporter:
“More accessibility, more walkability, voting locations close to where people live in their neighborhoods makes a lot of sense.”
