Election Information
Elections
All Federal, State, local and school elections are administered by the City Clerk’s Office. All City elections are held at Heritage Park, Independence Recreation Building, 1776 Heritage Park Drive. The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
A Primary/General City Election is held every odd year at which time four members of Council are elected for a four-year term and Mayor for a two-year term. Eligibility for elective office is as follows:
1. Twenty-one years of age.
2. A registered elector of the City.
3. A resident of the City for at least two years continuously immediately
preceding the election.
4. Can not be in default to the City.
These positions are non-partisan and nominated by petition. Persons interested in running for Council or Mayor must submit nominating petitions as required by law. Petitions shall be signed by not less than twenty-five, nor more than 100, of the registered electors of the City. Nominating petitions and related forms shall be filed with the City Clerk not later than 4:00 p.m. on the twelfth Tuesday preceding the Primary Election date. Packets for filing are available at the City Clerk's office.
2010 Election Dates
August 3, 2010 - Primary Election
Last date to register to vote - July 6, 2010
For more information on the August 3rd Election and to see if you're registered to vote, go to Find Your Polling Location and to view a sample ballot.
November 2, 2010 - General Election
Last date to register to vote - October 4, 2010
New Voter Identification Requirement
Due to a recent court ruling, every Michigan voter who offers to vote in the polls must comply with the requirement by showing picture identification or signing an affidavit attesting that he or she is not in possession of picture identification.
Register to Vote
To qualify to be registered as an elector in the State of Michigan you must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age by election day and a resident of the community for 30 days prior to an election. You may register to vote by utilizing the Voter Registration Form and submitting it to the City Clerk, One Grand Street, Coldwater, MI 49036 - or you may register in person at any Secretary of State Offices in United States.
Absentee Ballots
Absentee ballots are made available for every election. To qualify for an absentee ballot, you must be a registered voter and complete the Absentee Voter Application to declare the reason why you are requesting an absentee ballot.
• 60 years of age or older.
• Physically unable to attend the polls without assistance of another.
• An appointed precinct worker in a precinct other than the precinct where you reside.
• Expect to be absent from the community in which you are registered for the entire time the polls are open on Election Day.
• Cannot attend the polls because of the tenets of your religion.
• Cannot attend the polls due to the confinement to jail awaiting arraignment or trial.
Absentee ballot applications can be printed from this web page and returned to the City Clerk, One Grand Street, Coldwater, MI 49036.
Election Inspectors
The City Clerk is also responsible for recruiting, hiring and training inspectors to work at the polls on Election Day. Inspectors can work all day, until the close of the polls, or just a partial day. The rate of compensation is: Inspectors $10.00 and Chairmen $10.50. To be able to work on a City election you are required to be certified through our election training program. Those training sessions will be conducted by the City at various scheduled dates. To qualify to be an Election Inspector, you must be a registered voter of Branch County and at least 16 years old. If you are interested in becoming an election inspector, complete the application Election Inspector Application and return to the City Clerk, One Grand Street, Coldwater, MI 49036, or contact the City Clerk at (517) 279-9501.
