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.

