Voters to See Candidates, Varied Millage Proposals on Ballot

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – Are you an early voter who has mailed in your August Primary ballot? If not, in addition to the Aug. 6 Election Day, the choices remain for ballot drop-box and in-person early voting. Early voting in Clare County is being conducted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 27 through Sunday, Aug. 4 at the Clare County Building, 225 W. Main St. in Harrison. On Aug. 6, polls in the county’s townships and municipalities will close at 8 p.m.

While the choice announced Sunday by President Joe Biden to discontinue his run for re-election is stirring up presidential race fervor, the important thing to remember locally is that the majority of contested Primary Election races within the county are solely between candidates within the same political party. That means the winner in those primary races will be the only candidate advancing to the November General Election ballot, ergo the winners in those Primary races will actually be getting elected in August. So, if a voter thinks “Oh well, I’ll just vote in November” – their preferred candidate may not be on that November ballot.

Also important to keep in mind are millage proposals. On Aug. 6, those include renewal proposals for Animal Control, E911/Central Dispatch, and Senior Citizens Services, as well as the question of whether to continue the Spongy Moth millage. Road millages/proposals are being sought in Arthur, Freeman and Greenwood townships.

A millage proposal for fire protection will be on the ballot in Hatton Township, as will a fire protection millage renewal in Hayes Township. Summerfield will seek a fire protection millage renewal and increase. Redding Township will seek a general operating millage.

School millage proposals [relevant to specific townships/municipalities] include a Clare Public Schools $12.1 million bond proposal; a Gladwin Community Schools operating millage proposal; and a Farwell Area Schools sinking fund millage renewal proposal.

These millage items will not be on the November ballot, so having a voice in their passage or denial depends on an August vote.

An essential thing for voters to understand is that there is no ability to vote for both Republican and Democratic candidates on the Primary ballot – doing so will void all votes for candidates. If that happens, millage proposal votes on those ballots will still be counted.

Voters can get an early look at the ballots for their individual precincts on the county’s clareco.net website by clicking on “Departments” then “Elections” where they will find all precincts listed. Simply click on one to see the sample ballot. The official candidates list is available there also.