ELECTION DAY! Tuesday, November 3, 2009 is the South Haven City General Election. The Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. In the General Election, the voters have an opportunity to vote for Mayor and Council representative. The Mayor position is voted city-wide, whereas, the council race is voted per ward.

Sample Ballots for the City of South Haven General Election:

Absentee Ballot Application

City of South Haven Elections
The elections of all City Officers are held on a non-partisan basis. The General City Election is held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in every odd numbered year.

The City consists of three wards with two Council members from each ward serving a four-year term. At each regular City Election from the City at large, a mayor is elected to a two-year term.

A City Primary Election is held, if required, on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in August of each odd year in which a regular City Election is to be held.

Those seeking a position as an Elected Official must submit 1) a petition with the required number of signatures, 2) a completed and signed Affidavit of Identity and Receipt of Filing form; and 3) a completed and signed Statement of Organization for Candidate Committees form if the person has not previously run for public office.

South Haven Public School Elections
Changes in the Michigan Election Law now require that Townships conduct their own elections. Therefore, township residents must vote in the township in which they reside. Residents of the City will continue to vote at City Hall, 539 Phoenix Street. Please contact your City or Township Clerk should you have any questions.

Interested in running for Public Office? Here are some important points you will need to know to successfully run for Public Office in the South Haven Primary or General Election:

Absentee ballots are available 45 days prior to the election. To qualify for an absentee ballot, you must meet one of the following criteria:

• Are 60 years of age or older
  
• Expect to be absent from the community in which you are registered to vote for the entire time the polls are open on election day.
  
• Are physically unable to attend the polls without the assistance of another.
  
• Cannot attend the polls because of the tenets of your religion.
  
• Have been appointed as an election inspector in a precinct other than the precinct in which you reside.
  
• Cannot attend the polls because you are confined to jail awaiting arraignment or trial.
  

A written request for an absentee ballot must be received by the Clerk's Office. An Absentee Ballot Application may be submitted as your written request.

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NEW ELECTION REQUIREMENTS - Photo identification required

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Check the status of your voter registration, view voting demonstration and view a sample ballot.
Secretary of State

A person wishing to register to vote may do so by completing the Voter Registration Application through the following sources:

• City of South Haven City Hall, 539 Phoenix Street
  
• Secretary of State Office, 73185 Phoenix Rd.
  
• Secretary of State “Renewal by Mail” program. (See Michigan Voter Registration Application link at left - Allows Michigan citizens who are renewing their driver license by mail to register to vote at the same time).ail

For your convenience, when you visit the Secretary of State Office to update your information (name change, change of address, etc.) they will forward your updated information to the Clerk of the district of which you are a registered voter.

In order to become a registered voter, one must certify that:

• I am a citizen of the United States;
  
• I am a resident of the State of Michigan and will be at least a 30 day resident of his (her) city or township by election day;
• I will be at least 18 years of age by election day;
  
• I authorize cancellation of any previous registration;
  
• The information provided is true to the best of my knowledge under penalty of perjury.
  For more information about registering to vote, go to the Department of State web site