Local government officials play a crucial role in upholding democracy by ensuring that elections are conducted in a free, fair, and efficient manner. Additionally, they are responsible for maintaining records of various public events, including births, deaths, and marriages, while also ensuring that these records are easily accessible to the public.
Surprisingly, out of the 1,240 township clerk positions that are open for election this year in Michigan, almost 10% of them have no takers to fill the position.
Canton Township Clerk, Michael Siegrist, who also holds the position of second vice president of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks (MAMC), recently highlighted a unique situation on social media. According to Siegrist, this is something that has never been encountered before.
In a shocking revelation, it has been reported that 118 townships will have no candidates running for the position of Clerk in this year’s election. This unprecedented situation, as revealed by an expert, has never been witnessed before in history. As much as 9.5% of all Clerk races this year will have no elected officials. This has led to many questions about the reasons behind such an alarming trend. Why is there a lack of interest in this job? How will the state cope with such a significant labor shortage? And most importantly, who will be responsible for running elections in these communities? These are some of the questions that need answers.
According to Siegrist, clerks in Michigan are finding themselves in the midst of a heated battle over voting. He described this as the “voting wars,” where activists and partisans are putting undue pressure on the system by increasing demands while providing fewer resources. Additionally, these individuals are also resorting to verbal attacks and intimidation tactics, including threats of violence, leaving clerks caught in the middle.
According to Siegrist, not being concerned about the brain drain and the loss of talent and experience in MI is either dishonest or not being serious. Siegrist hopes that this trend will not continue and that the “voting wars” will stop. In order to have future elections run smoothly, it is crucial for legislators, activists, administrators, and elected officials to understand that the center must hold.
Despite attempts to gather information, the Michigan Department of State did not respond to a request for comment.
According to Siegrist, township clerks make up over 80% of all local election officials in the state and are responsible for carrying out the numerous election reforms that have been approved by voters in the last six years. These reforms, although beneficial, have added to the workload and responsibilities of election administrators.
The Michigan Townships Association notes that township clerks do more than just handle elections and voter registration files. They have a range of responsibilities that include keeping custody of township records, recording, maintaining, and publishing board meeting minutes, preparing financial statements, and ensuring that tax certificates are delivered to the township supervisor and county clerk before Sept. 30th.
In recent years, there have been significant changes to the voting process that have had a profound impact on the responsibilities of clerks. With Proposal 3 of 2018 and Proposal 2 of 2022 both passing with a majority vote of at least 60%, the right to same-day voter registration, nine days of early voting, and absentee voting, among other rights, have been guaranteed. These changes have undoubtedly altered the landscape of the voting system and added new tasks to the already demanding job of clerks.
According to Siegrist, many areas are unable to handle the additional workload that these modifications require. As per the Michigan Advance, he stated that several jurisdictions are facing difficulties in managing the increased workload caused by these changes.
According to him, turnover has never been high in these positions historically. In smaller jurisdictions, particularly in northern Michigan, retirees often run for these jobs, which are not full-time. In fact, there are around 900 jurisdictions in Michigan where the clerk’s office doesn’t even have a full-time employee. These are part-time roles that come with a stipend, usually around $10,000 a year. The reason for this is that the system was designed for clerks to oversee simple elections with basic equipment.
According to Siegrist, the job requires not only an advanced level of technical expertise but also longer work hours, which can result in unforeseen expenses such as childcare, making recruitment challenging. Moreover, many people in the public are becoming increasingly suspicious that fraud is rampant, even when there is no concrete evidence to support such claims.
According to a frustrated election worker, people are now fixated on discussing photo ID, voter rolls, and Dominion voting machines, which serve the majority of voters in Michigan. However, the worker is unable to delve into these issues due to being overburdened with work. They are currently performing the roles of three people for the same pay they received last year. The Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks had previously warned of the difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff due to the situation, which may negatively impact the quality of election administration.
In December 2023, the association issued an advisory, urging municipalities to acknowledge the critical need for fair compensation of clerks and election officials. The advisory served as a warning to address the issue promptly and avoid any potential consequences.
According to a recent advisory, the crucial role of election officials in a properly functioning democracy cannot be underestimated. These unsung heroes work tirelessly behind the scenes to safeguard the integrity of the entire electoral process. Therefore, it is essential to pay them appropriately, not just as a matter of financial compensation, but as a means of upholding the very foundations of our democratic society. Failure to do so could lead to a shortage of qualified professionals willing to take on such positions, thereby increasing turnover and potentially eroding public confidence in the efficient administration of elections.
The MAMC has taken steps to tackle the issue of compensation for election officials. They have urged the municipalities to conduct a thorough wage assessment to ensure that these officials are being paid according to their counterparts in other departments. In addition, they have recommended the creation of an adjustment plan to account for the added duties and responsibilities during an extended election period. The MAMC has further emphasized the importance of providing adequate support, resources, and benefits to assist clerks and election staff in effectively managing the challenges posed by the extended election period.
According to the advisory, compensating election officials properly is crucial as it serves as an investment in the welfare of our democracy. Paying them fairly and providing benefits not only upholds public trust but also helps to safeguard the integrity of elections and encourages dedicated professionals to serve. In essence, the compensation of election officials should reflect the demands and responsibilities they bear.
After the MAMC advisory was released, the Michigan Townships Association (MTA) issued a bulletin to its members. The MTA acknowledged the importance of providing fair compensation to election officials, but expressed that the suggested measures did not comply with the legal obligations for township clerks. It should be noted that township clerks receive payment from their respective municipalities.
The association expressed their view that utilizing such an approach for a township clerk’s salary would not be lawful. They firmly stated that, in a township, the clerk’s salary as specified in the salary resolution for the office is the sole compensation that the clerk can receive for carrying out their statutory duties.
The MTA has suggested that townships should increase the salary of the office of clerk instead of providing additional compensation for increased election duties. The organization has recommended two ways to accomplish this. Firstly, by a simple vote of the township board. Secondly, through the creation of a salary compensation commission.
According to Siegrist, he found the response from the Michigan Townships Association to be quite disappointing.
“He said that what they fail to understand is that by doing so, it takes away the drive and progress of clerks who advocate to their local township boards and supervisors to secure funding and additional compensation for tasks they perform. When the notification was sent out as a response to all member communities, I was disappointed and felt that it was an irresponsible move.”
According to Jenn Fiedler, the communications director of the association, the information they provided is accurate. She mentioned to the Advance that the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks was promoting something that did not align with the law.
According to the spokesperson, the organization has been unwavering in its commitment to assist and provide necessary resources to clerks, especially during elections. They have also urged township boards to assess the salaries of this crucial elected position. The spokesperson highlighted a cover story featured in this year’s April/May edition of their monthly magazine. The story was based on a resource toolkit developed by MTA and shared with members via email. Additionally, the toolkit was also integrated into the clerk/election curriculum at MTA workshops.
According to Michael Selden, the director of the MTA’s Member Information Services, there are more vacancies on this year’s ballot than usual. However, he emphasized that this does not necessarily mean that the positions will remain unfilled.
“He said that there is still a deadline approaching later this month for individuals to run as an independent on the ballot in November. Additionally, it is still possible to run as a write-in for the August primary,” he explained.
According to Selden, if there are no candidates on the ballot, and the position becomes officially vacant on Jan. 2, the township board would have 45 days to appoint someone to fill the vacancy. However, if nobody steps forward for the appointment, a special election could be called by the county clerk. Selden has never encountered a situation where a special election was necessary, and he believes that won’t be necessary this time either.
Selden concurs that the primary reasons for the shortage of clerks are the mounting responsibilities and the heightened examination of their work.
According to the spokesperson, the clerks who oversee elections take immense pride in their work and the safety and security of the electoral process. However, when they become the target of attacks, it can take a toll on their morale. Additionally, the added pressure of managing absentee ballot voting and nine days of early voting can lead to burnout among clerks, resulting in some not seeking reelection.
According to Selden, the MTA has suggested that townships could tackle the problem by upgrading the deputy clerk role to a full-time position.
According to a spokesperson, every township clerk is required to appoint a deputy, who is usually there to sign checks or perform other duties in the absence of the clerk. However, the township can encourage the clerk to hire a more skilled deputy who can take on additional responsibilities instead of just being a backup. This may involve bringing in a deputy who can work more hours or outsourcing certain tasks, such as payroll. By doing so, the township can ensure that its operations run smoothly and efficiently.
Selden conceded that many townships would find it financially challenging to hire a full-time deputy.
According to him, out of the 1,240 townships, approximately half of them have populations of fewer than 2,000 individuals. He further explained that some townships have less than 200 people, and a few have less than 100 individuals. In such small townships with limited revenue, the options for choosing people are restricted due to the scarcity of human resources.
According to Siegrist, the lack of full-time deputy clerks is a systemic problem that even the biggest municipalities are not addressing.
Like democracy, election workers are under assault with many fearing for the future
He said, “If you look at Sterling Heights, you’ll notice that the president of the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks, Melanie Ryska, doesn’t have a deputy clerk. Despite being the fourth-largest jurisdiction in Michigan, there is no additional support for her. It’s clear that everyone wants the system to function smoothly and see major reforms such as increased voting rights and expanded access. However, people expect us to achieve all of this magically, with just one person administering it all. It’s as if they want us to sacrifice our personal lives to make it happen.”
According to Siegrist, the issue remains unresolved due to the lack of urgency, which ultimately results in it becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
“He said that the job would be given to some unsuspecting person for four years, but they probably wouldn’t run for reelection. He questioned whether it was desirable to hit the reset button every four years and then be surprised when individuals illegally give up election equipment to conspiracy theorists who attack the election system. The clerks who are put in those positions are new and have low information. They are people who don’t know how to do the job and don’t treat it professionally.”
In 2020, there were several instances where local clerks illegally handed over voting tabulators to supporters of former President Donald Trump. The purpose of this was to validate his disproven claims of massive voter fraud in the election.
Siegrist expressed concern about the practice of refreshing township clerks every four years with partisan appointees. He believes that this approach leads to individuals being appointed solely based on political affiliation rather than qualifications or experience. “They’ll find a warm body to fog a mirror and sit in that position,” he explained. However, Siegrist worries about the quality of service provided by such appointees. He argued that the role of a township clerk has evolved over the past two decades and therefore, a solution that worked 20 years ago may not be adequate today.
