Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land reminds residents to cast ballots in local elections Tuesday, Nov. 3.
“Because voting is the foundation of democracy, I encourage you to make your voice heard by participating in your local election,” said Land, Michigan’s chief elections officer. “If you’re unable to make it to the polls in person on Nov. 3, you may qualify for an absentee ballot. Contact your local clerk for more information.”
As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee ballot if you are:
– age 60 or older
– physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another
– expecting to be out of town for the entire time the polls are open on Election Day
– in jail awaiting arraignment or trial
– unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons
– appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence.
Those who wish to receive their absentee ballot by mail must submit their application by 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Absentee ballots can be obtained in person anytime through 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. Voters who request an absentee ballot in person on Monday, Nov. 2 must vote the ballot in the clerk’s office. Emergency absentee ballots are available under certain conditions through 4 p.m. on Election Day.
Residents who registered to vote by mail or via a voter registration drive and have never voted in Michigan are not eligible to vote by absentee ballot in their first election. They must vote in person at their precinct. This restriction does not apply to voters who are overseas, disabled or 60 or older.
Absentee voters should remember to sign the return envelope. If a voter receives assistance in preparing the ballot, the signature of the person providing the assistance must also be on the return envelope. Signed absentee ballots can only be returned to a clerk’s office by the voter, a family member or person residing in the voter’s household, a mail carrier or election official.
Elections will be held in 77 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To find out if there is an election in their community, voters can visit the Secretary of State Web site at www.Michigan.gov/sos or check with their county clerk’s office. In addition, the Michigan Voter Information Center can help residents determine whether they’re registered to vote and direct them to their polling location. The Web site is www.Michigan.gov/vote.
Voters are reminded of the identification requirement. They will be asked to present photo ID at the polls, such as a Michigan driver’s license or identification card. Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID or failed to bring it with them can still vote. They will sign a brief affidavit stating that they’re not in possession of a photo ID. Their ballots will be included with all others and counted on Election Day.
A specially equipped voting station called the AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminal is also available at each polling location for use by voters with disabilities.
Additional election information can be found at www.Michigan.gov/sos.
10TH ANNUAL PARADE
AND FESTIVAL
LANSING, MI — The 10th Annual African American Parade and Family Festival was held in downtown on September 26, 2009 where thousands gathered for a fun-time celebration which featured floats, marching bands, youth groups, greek-lettered organizations, churches, and community organizations. More than 60 entries paraded downtown to the beats of music that filled the air and as children and their families watched and waved during the hour-long event. The excitement then moved to Ferris Park for entertainment –gospel, rap, jazz, R&B, and dancing — and food and more fun to make this a wonderful day. The parade grand marshalls were also honored with special tributes from the State of Michigan.
“We thank the greater Lansing community for their support for helping to make this another successful event, ” said Michael C. Murphy, chairperson of the Capital City African American Cultural Association which sponsors the parade and festival. ”We especially appreciate the support of our sponsors, local media, volunteers, vendors, parade participants, and the past and present grand marshalls. It takes a community-wide effort to make this event possible every year.”
For more information about the annual parade and festival check www.ccaaca.org.
Law Does Not Provide for a
Social Security Cost-of-Living
Adjustment for 2010
With consumer prices down over the past year, monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 57 million Americans will not automatically increase in 2010. This will be the first year without an automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) since they went into effect in 1975.
“Social Security is doing its job helping Americans maintain their standard of living,” Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security said. “Last year when consumer prices spiked, largely as a result of higher gas prices, beneficiaries received a 5.8 percent COLA, the largest increase since 1982. This year, in light of the human need, we need to support President Obama’s call for us to make another $250 recovery payment for 57 million Americans.”
The Social Security Act provides that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits increase automatically each year if there is an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the last year to the third quarter of the current year. This year there was no increase in the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2008 to the third quarter of 2009. In addition, because there was no increase in the CPI-W this year, under the law the starting point for determinations regarding a possible 2011 COLA will remain the third quarter of 2008.
Some other changes that would normally take effect in January 2010 based on the increase in average wages also will not take effect, even though average wages did increase. Since there is no COLA, the statute prohibits an increase in the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax as well as the retirement earnings test exempt amounts. These amounts will remain unchanged in 2010.
Information about Medicare changes for 2010, when available, will be found at www.medicare.gov.
The Department of Health and Human Services has not yet announced if there will be any Medicare premium changes for 2010. Should there be an increase in the Medicare Part B premium, the law contains a “hold harmless” provision that protects about 93 percent of Social Security beneficiaries from paying a higher Part B premium, in order to avoid reducing their net Social Security benefit.
Those not protected include higher income beneficiaries subject to an income-adjusted Part B premium and beneficiaries newly entitled to Part B in 2010.
