Boxes for
Ballots
Group works to add ballot
drop boxes to more locales to
accommodate absentee voters.
SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jews in the D
W
ith increasing numbers of
COVID-19 cases and increas-
ing complaints of mail delivery
delays, a nonpartisan organization is work-
ing to make voting more convenient and
comfortably accessible.
The Michigan Election Reform Alliance
(MERA) is advocating for an increase in
the number of ballot drop boxes available
across the state before the official election
day of Nov. 3. Members also are advocat-
ing for ways to make sure registered voters
know about them and their locations in
each voting jurisdiction.
Jan BenDor, statewide coordinator of
MERA, is a former election administrator
who became a voting rights activist after
retirement and is leading her organization
in anticipation of increasing numbers of
absentee voters, resulting in part from the
2018 passage of state legislation permitting
all registered voters the option of sending in
their ballots.
“People involved in advocating for voter
rights are very passionate,
” said BenDor,
who recalls participating in an archaeolog-
ical trip to Israel where she learned about
ancient voters using pebbles to cast their
preferences. “We realize opening voting
opportunities saves our democracy, and it
isn’
t easy.
“Drop boxes are among the most import-
ant issues in this year’
s election because we
have a perfect storm of problems. COVID-
19 makes it risky for people to come to a
polling place, both for the voters and the
poll workers, and we hear about so many
problems with the U.S. Postal Service.
”
MERA members, active throughout the
state, began their drop box efforts in March
by conducting surveys of city and township
clerks to determine the use of drop boxes in
different voting jurisdictions. They wanted
to know about the number of boxes, the
capacity of each one, locations, availability
for drive-up service, accessibility for people
in wheelchairs and signage relevant to the
boxes.
Brian Steinberg, who is leading the
MERA drop box project, reminds voters
they can access a state website (Michigan.
gov/Vote) to make sure their ballots have
been received.
“I wrote my first email about drop boxes
the day after the Wisconsin primary elec-
tion,
” said Steinberg, raised in a Jewish
household with a strong voting ethic. “It
was peak COVID-19, and they were trying
to find ways to get people to vote without
going to the polls. I saw all those huge lines
around the block with people wearing
masks, and I didn’
t want to see that happen-
ing in Michigan. I centered on drop boxes
as a great solution for people who were
going to vote absentee to vote safely [and
get their votes counted].
”
Although the MERA phone survey did
not include all the voting jurisdictions in
Michigan, members say they called enough
22 | OCTOBER 1 • 2020
s.
Jan BenDor
at the ballot
drop box
in Superior
Township.
DROP BOX
VOTING STEPS
1.Request an absentee ballot from your
city or township clerk.
2. Identify the locations and accommo-
dations of drop boxes in the jurisdiction
where you vote, either by calling the
office of your city or township clerk or
going to Michigan.gov/Vote and clicking
on the “Who is my clerk?” choice.
3. Deposit the ballot as early as possible.