16 September 2018: Update on Voting Competition 2018

As previously announced (click here), I am funding prizes for voting competitions between cities in Southeast Michigan to encourage voting in the November 2018 election:

* Huntington Woods vs. Pleasant Ridge - one prize of $1000

* Berkley vs. Ferndale vs. Oak Park vs. Royal Oak vs. Southfield - prizes of $1000 (first place) and $500 (second place)

Are you registered to vote for the election on Tuesday, November 6, 2018? If you are a Michigan resident, you should visit the Michigan Voter Education Center at https://webapps.sos.state.mi.us/MVIC/.

The last day to register to vote is Tuesday, October 9, 2018.

This year I turned 60 years old and voted by absentee ballot. I live in Huntington Woods and simply went to the clerk's office, filled out the application, and received the ballot from the clerk. I probably could have filled it out there and been done, but I took it home, filled it out and then dropped it in the City's box outside City Hall. I assume that other cities have a similar process. Once the cities actually receive the ballots in the beginning of October, this is how I plan to vote - no crowds, no pressure, no waiting in lines.

As noted previously (click here), I think there is a lot we need to do on a regular basis to strengthen our democracy other than voting, but voting may be the single most important thing we do.