Deadline to register to vote is nearing

By Charles Sercombe
The next election in Hamtramck is Aug. 8, and if you are not registered to vote here yet, time is ticking.
Those who qualify to vote here have until July 24 to register through the mail. You can also register in-person any day after that, including the day of the election.
To register to vote in Hamtramck, you must be a citizen, at least 18 years old on the day of the election, as well as have proof of residency in Hamtramck.
The August Primary Election will feature a runoff of city council candidates and a school millage renewal.
In the city council race, there are nine candidates, but three will be eliminated for the final faceoff in the November General Election. The top six vote-getting candidates will vie for three seats on council.
Incumbent councilmembers Mohammed Hassan, Nayeem Choudhury and Mohammed Alsomiri are facing challengers Lynn Blasey, Muhtasin Sadman, Nasr Hussain, Ruhel Amin, Sari Ahmed, and Yousef Saed.
Blasey and Hussain have regularly attended council meetings for over a year, and have been active politically.
As for the millage renewal, the Hamtramck Public School District is seeking 3 mills – down from 4 mills for the past 10 years. The renewal would be for another 10 years.
That millage is called a sinking fund, which allows the district to spend money on repairing and updating buildings, security improvements, and technology updates, among other items.
The millage, however, may not be used to pay salaries, or pay for supplies or regular maintenance.
The school district previously tried — unsuccessfully — to get voters to approve a 30-mill tax a few years ago, but voters twice rejected it. That was during the covid pandemic when homes finances were a concern for many.
It’s hard to tell what the mood of the voters will be for this renewal, but there is one council candidate, Nasr Hussain, telling voters to reject all millages.
Hussain is a former school boardmember for the district, although he resigned from the board before his term expired.
To register to vote, you can go to the city clerk’s office in city hall Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You can also register to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 8, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and still be able to vote.
Other locations to register to vote, except on the day of the election, include the county clerk office; any Secretary of State branch office, or other designated state agency.
Not able to get to an office? No problem. You can get a registration form through the Secretary of State online atwww.mi.gov/vote. You can then mail it to the Hamtramck City Clerk.
For those who want to get a sneak peek at the ballots, sample ones are also available at the clerk’s office.
Posted July 7, 2023