With Only City Council on the Ballot, the City Will Run (and Pay for) November’s Election
The only matter on the ballot for East Lansing voters in the November 2 general election will be who to elect to City Council. And since there’s no race at the county, state, or congressional level on the ballot, the City of East Lansing will be primarily responsible for the administration of the election, including paying for it.
On Tuesday, Sept. 7, the City’s Election Commission — composed of Mayor Jessy Gregg, City Clerk Jennifer Shuster, and City Attorney Mike Homier — voted unanimously to approve the “printing and furnishing of the ballots for this specific election.”
When asked by ELi at Tuesday’s meeting about the cost of this election, Shuster said the exact cost won’t be known until after the election has taken place, but estimated it to be upwards of $80,000.
The City Charter requires a Council election occur this November, and Shuster confirmed that the City is on the hook for the whole cost of an election like this — one with only City-level elections. That includes paying for the physical ballots, for poll workers’ employment, and even for the Ingham County Board of Canvassers’ time spent certifying the result.
The City-only nature of the upcoming general election might result in a lower voter turnout, too, making every vote that much more powerful. In the last City Council election, in 2019, Mark Meadows beat Erik Altmann for a seat on Council by only two votes, and ELi found that a recount might well have reversed that outcome.
There are currently five candidates running for the two open four-year seats on Council. Two candidates are vying for the single two-year seat.
The candidates for the four-year seats are (alphabetically by last name) Dan Bollman, George Brookover, Adam DeLay, Chuck Grigsby, and Dana Watson. The candidates for the two-year seat are Ron Bacon and Mikey Manuel.
Read profiles about all the candidates and find all the info you’ll need for the upcoming election at ELi’s Voter Guide to the 2021 Election.
Also, remember that we want to hear from you about what issues you consider important in this election, so please fill out this brief survey that also asks you about your top issues and what questions you’d like to see asked of candidates by ELi reporters and moderators of the upcoming candidate forums hosted in partnership with ELi by the Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU; MSU’s undergraduate student government), and the Lansing area League of Women Voters.
The League of Women Voters’ candidate forum is likely to be on Sept. 29, with the ASMSU debate likely on October 11.