Voting in Michigan: Mid-term elections are coming on Tuesday, November 8, 2022

As the summer sun slips slowly into the west, it is time to start preparing for the mid-term elections on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

Voter information is available on the Michigan Secretary of State's Website:

From the Website:  

"This page provides helpful information about where to find your clerk, polling place, and sample ballots. Looking to register or update your voter registration? Visit our registration page."

Use the log in to check your:
    •    Registration Status
    •    Polling place location and hours
    •    View a sample ballot
    •    Track an absentee ballot, and more...

Eligibility to Vote 

To be eligible to register to vote you must be:

• A Michigan resident (at the time you register) and a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days (when you vote)
• A United States citizen
• At least 18 years of age (when you vote)
• Not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison

Note: Guardianship does not affect one's eligibility to vote; as long as one is not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison and is otherwise eligible, the person is eligible to register and vote.

To find out if you are registered to vote or to update that information, visit the SOS registration page. 

"This page provides helpful information about where to find your clerk, polling place, and sample ballots. Looking to register or update your voter registration? Visit our registration page."

Use the log in to check your:
    •    Registration Status
    •    Polling place location and hours
    •    View a sample ballot
    •    Track an absentee ballot, and more...

 Michigan absentee ballot applications for the November election are now available

According to the Detroit Free Press, "Michigan absentee ballot applications for November election now available" by Arpan Lobo, 8/29/22, "...voters can apply online at the Michigan Voter Information Center at michigan.gov/vote, or print out the application and return it by mail, email or in person at their local city or township clerk's office. Information on local clerk office locations can also be found on the MVIC."

Absentee ballots will be mailed out Sept. 29, per Secretary of State Benson's office. Starting Sept. 29, voters can also go to their local clerk's office and vote an absentee ballot in person.

Eligible voters can register to vote up to and on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Michigan State Budget Updates as of 7/1/22

This information is from an email from the ARC Michigan Government Affairs Update for July 1, 2022. See The ARC Michigan Website for the Government Affairs newsletter and email archives.

The $76.5 billion 2023 State Budget has been passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor.

From the ARC:

The agreed upon budget for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services came in at $33.4 billion – slightly less than the Executive Recommendation but more than the House and Senate recommendations. The following are some notable inclusions:
   •    $3 million GF/GP to continue the Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL) statewide -- a behavioral health crisis intervention and support call center and also provides primary coverage in regions where a regional national suicide prevention 988 lifeline center does not provide coverage and for statewide secondary coverage for 988

    •    $5 million to reimburse Community Mental Health Services Providers (CMHSPs) for the cost of court-appointed public guardians

    •    $41 million to increase capacity at Hawthorn Center

    •    $325 million in Capital Outlay for a new state operated psych hospital to eventually replace Hawthorn and Walter Reuther

    •    $165.6 million (Gross) for several new, private, one-time behavioral health facility capacity investments

    •    $16.8 million to expand opioid and behavioral health homes

    •    $34 million for various one-time behavioral health funding initiatives

    •    $10 million to expand the loan repayment program for behavioral health professionals

    •    $50 million for Clinical and CMHSP [Community Mental Health Services Program] Integration Readiness Initiatives – ostensibly would be needed should Senate Bill 597 and 598 – Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey’s behavioral health integration package – move forward in the future

    •    $2 million for the Arc Michigan to provide special education advocacy services for youth in foster care
...

"The budget also includes a continuation of the $2.35 an hour for Direct Care Workers (DCW) but does not increase the wage above and beyond the previous year’s increase other than a slight increase for DCWs in private residential facilities."

"According to Gongwer News Service, $7 billion remains on the balance sheet, ostensibly for further conversations in the coming months around tax cuts and supplemental spending measures."

 "The budget also invests heavily in education, including new investments in school mental health programs and $1.6 billion was included in the School Aid Budget for special education." 

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How these facts and figures will affect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is not entirely clear, but I would keep my eye on that $7 billion and possible supplemental spending proposals.