“I do truly believe this is going to make it easier for people to vote, not harder.”
Grand Rapids Commissioner Drew Robbins says he has confidence in the City Clerk’s plan to reduce the number of precincts in the city from 74 to 59.
“I have no concerns about this.”
City Clerk Joel Hondorp says fewer in person election day polling places are needed because more people are voting early or absentee by mail.
“The citizens voted themselves more access to the ballot box by adding universal absentee voting and early in person voting rather than just vote on election day.”
Hondorp says about 13 percent of eligible voters will get a new polling place.
“About 21,700 voters will vote in a new polling location.”
Kelsey Perdue is the only commissioner voting against the proposal to cut precincts.
“This will not benefit everyone. Who will it disadvantage? The majority of these changes and eliminations take place in communities of color around our city.”
And no matter how many precincts, accessible and safe, Commissioner Alicia Marie Belchak says it is still a challenge to get people to use them.
“Some of the hardest things to do is get people to turn out, whether its absentee or early, or day of.”
