VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE

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* The Buchanan Chronicle DOES NOT take any political positions nor does it support any particular candidate. We strive to present each candidate or proposal fairly and evenly, so as to facilitate informed voting for all. *

* The Buchanan Chronicle DOES deeply encourage every eligible voter to cast their vote this year on Election Day: Tuesday, November 08, 2022. *

~ No matter your opinion, it is important we all participate in the election process, this way it can most accurately reflect our community and our collective opinions, whatever they may be. ~

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View the Ballot – Link HERE – Click this link to view the Ballot for this upcoming Election Day!

According to the State of Michigan, the following are the Proposals that you can expect to see on your November 08, 2022 ballot:

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~ State of Michigan : Proposals ~

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Proposal 22-1 : A Proposal To Amend The State Constitution To Require Annual Public Financial Disclosure Reports By Legislators And Other State Officers And Change State Legislator Term Limit To 12 Total Years In Legislature

This proposed constitutional amendment would:

• Require members of legislature, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general file annual public financial disclosure reports after 2023, including assets, liabilities, income sources, future employment agreements, gifts, travel reimbursements, and positions held in organizations except religious, social, and political organizations.
• Require legislature implement but not limit or restrict reporting requirements.
• Replace current term limits for state representatives and state senators with a 12-year total limit in any combination between house and senate, except a person elected to senate in 2022 may be elected the number of times allowed when that person became a candidate.

Should this proposal be adopted? ~ YES or NO

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Proposal 22-2 : A Proposal To Amend The State Constitution To Add Provisions Regarding Elections

This proposed constitutional amendment would:

• Recognize fundamental right to vote without harassing conduct;
• Require military or overseas ballots be counted if postmarked by election day;
• Provide voter right to verify identity with photo ID or signed statement;
• Provide voter right to single application to vote absentee in all elections;
• Require state-funded absentee-ballot drop boxes, and postage for absentee applications and ballots;
• Provide that only election officials may conduct post-election audits;
• Require nine days of early in-person voting;
• Allow donations to fund elections, which must be disclosed;
• Require canvass boards certify election results based only on the official records of votes cast.

Should this proposal be adopted? ~ YES or NO

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Proposal 22-3 : A Proposal To Amend The State Constitution To Establish New Individual Right To Reproductive Freedom, Including Right To Make All Decisions About Pregnancy And Abortion; Allow State To Regulate Abortion In Some Cases; And Forbid Prosecution Of Individuals Exercising Established Right

This proposed constitutional amendment would:

• Establish new individual right to reproductive freedom, including right to make and carry out all decisions about pregnancy, such as prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion, miscarriage management, and infertility;
• Allow state to regulate abortion after fetal viability, but not prohibit if medically needed to protect a patient’s life or physical or mental health;
• Forbid state discrimination in enforcement of this right; prohibit prosecution of an individual, or a person helping a pregnant individual, for exercising rights established by this amendment;
• Invalidate state laws conflicting with this amendment.

Should this proposal be adopted? ~ YES or NO

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~ Berrien County : Proposals ~

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BERRIEN COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY MILLAGE PROPOSAL

Shall the County of Berrien repeal the existing Public Safety Millage that will expire with the December 1, 2024 tax levy and replace it with a new annual Public Safety Millage, which will be increased by up to 0.45 Mills ($0.45 per $1,000 of taxable value) on all taxable property within the County for a period of five (5) years beginning with the December 1, 2022 tax levy (to expire after December 1, 2026 tax levy) to provide funds to pay the operating and capital improvement costs of providing Public Safety services within the County? If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $3,992,955 in the first calendar year of the levy based on taxable value. ~ YES or NO

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~ Buchanan Community School District : Proposals ~

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BUCHANAN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BONDING PROPOSAL

Shall Buchanan Community Schools, Berrien County, Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed Thirty-Four Million Nine Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars ($34,970,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds therefor, in one or more series, for the purpose of:
– erecting, furnishing, and equipping additions to Moccasin Elementary School;
– remodeling, furnishing and refurnishing, and equipping and re-equipping school buildings;
– acquiring and installing instructional technology and instructional technology equipment for school buildings;
– erecting, furnishing, and equipping a bus garage;
– and preparing, developing, improving, and equipping athletic fields, athletic facilities, playgrounds, and sites? ~ YES or NO

The following is for informational purposes only:
– The estimated millage that will be levied for the proposed bonds in 2023, under current law, is 3.50 mills ($3.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation). The maximum number of years the bonds of any series may be outstanding, exclusive of any refunding, is twenty-eight (28) years. The estimated simple average annual millage anticipated to be required to retire this bond debt is 3.43 mills ($3.43 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation).
– The school district does not expect to borrow from the State to pay debt service on the bonds. The total amount of qualified bonds currently outstanding is $11,755,000. The total amount of qualified loans currently outstanding is $0. The estimated computed millage rate may change based on changes in certain circumstances.
– (Pursuant to State law, expenditure of bond proceeds must be audited and the proceeds cannot be used for repair or maintenance costs, teacher, administrator or employee salaries, or other operating expenses.)

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Make a Voting Plan TODAY

Voting Details from City of Buchanan – Election Information website:

• How do I register to vote?
  • Register Online by clicking here. Save time and register from home or work.
  • You may register to vote at your local Secretary of State Office (License Branch), your City, Township or Village Clerk’s Office, or at the County Clerk’s office,
  • Email the City Clerk with your questions
  • Click here for Voter Registration Form
  • Check out this video about registering to vote in Michigan!
• Can I register to vote online?
  • Yes! As of December 3, 2019 you can register to vote by clicking this link.
• How can I be an Election Inspector?
  • If you are interested in working an election, contact the Clerk’s Office for an application or download an Election Inspector Application and submit it to the Clerk’s office at 302 N. Redbud Trail, Buchanan Michigan 49107
• How can I get an absentee ballot?
  • Contact the Clerk
• How do I qualify for an Absent Voter Ballot?
  • Anyone can receive an absentee ballot.  No reason needed.
  • You can fill out an application for an Absentee Ballot here.
• How do I verify my registration information and view my ballot?
  • To view your registration information and view your ballot, you can go to the Secretary of State Website and fill in the proper information.
• I’ve moved, where do I vote?
  • If you’ve recently moved, you must be sure to fill out a registration form for your new precinct, or when you change your address at the Secretary of State’s Office your information will automatically be updated.
  • You will receive a new voter registration identification card by mail.
  • If you have moved within the City, you can simply call the City Clerk with your address change information and your file will be updated.
• What are the requirements to vote?
  • You must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of Michigan
  • Must be at least a 30 day resident of the city by election day
  • You must be 18 years of age by Election Day
• What time are the polls open?
  • Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
• Where do I vote?
  • The City of Buchanan has two (2) Precincts:
    • Precinct #1 is at City Hall, 302 N. Redbud Trail
    • Precinct #2 is at the Redbud City Center, 131 S. Oak Street
  • If you are not sure which precinct is yours, you can look on your voter identification card or call the city clerk.

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