Michigan General Election

1. Michigan General Election Tuesday, November 4, 2014

2. Who is eligible to vote? • A Citizen of the United States • A state of Michigan resident • 18 years of age by election day. A citizen can register at age 17 ½, provided he or she will be 18 on or before the next election • Not confined to jail after being convicted and sentenced

3. Are Your Registered to Vote? • You can check to see if you are registered to vote at www.michigan.gov/vote • Monday, October 6, is the last day you can register to vote for the November 4 election.

5. How do I Register to Vote? • You can register to vote for federal, state and local elections by mail; at your county, city or township clerk’s office, or at any Secretary of State office. • If you are registering in person, you need a driver’s license or state I.D. to register or you can sign an affidavit attesting that you not have a picture ID. • Change of address if you move within a city or township can be updated at the local clerk, at Secretary of State office, online at ExpressSOS.com. If you move to a new city or township, you must re-register to vote. • If you mail in your registration, and it is your first election to vote after registering, you have to vote in person.

6. Where can I register and voteif I am a college student away from home? • You should register to vote at the same address as your driver’s license, unless you also want to change your driver’s license. • You can register at the Secretary of State office if you want to register in another jurisdiction different than where you are in school. • You can vote absentee if you registered to vote in person. If you registered to vote by mail and have not yet voted, you must vote in person for your first election.

7. Where do I vote? • You should have a card – Voter Identification Card - with your precinct and voting place information • If you do not have a card you can check out that information at www.Michigan.gov/vote

8. What is required when I vote on election day at the polling place? • All polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. • You must show either a picture ID or sign an affidavit attesting that you are not in possession of picture ID. • ID requirements are satisfied with a Michigan driver’s license or state ID card. If not, you can use another driver’s license or ID from another state, a federal or state government-issued photo ID, a U.S. passport, a military ID, a tribal ID or a student ID from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education with a photo.

9. How do I vote absentee? Absentee Ballots are available for all elections. Should be available September 20, 2014. You may vote by absentee ballot if you: • Are unable to attend the polls without assistance • Are age 60 or over • Expect to absent from your city/township for election day • Are in jail awaiting arraignment or trial • Are working on the election • Are unable to attend the polls because of religious beliefs You can fill out a form and mail it to get absentee ballot at www.michigan.gov/elections or go to your local clerk’s office

10. Who are the Statewide Candidates • Michigan Governor/Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • U.S. Senate • State Board of Education • University of Michigan Board of Regents • Michigan State University Board of Trustees • Wayne State University Board of Governors • Michigan Supreme Court • Michigan Court of Appeals

11. What other candidates and/or issues will be on the ballot? • U. S. House of Representatives • Michigan Senate • Michigan House of Representatives • County Commissioners (+ County Officers in a few counties) • Partisan Cities (Mayor, Council), Township offices if vacancy • Local Judges, Circuit, Probate and District • All Community Colleges • Some nonpartisan Cities, all Villages • All School Boards • District Libraries • Local Ballot Issues

12. What are the statewide ballot issues? There are 2 statewide ballot issues: PROPOSAL 14-1A REFERENDUM OF PUBLIC ACT 520 OF 2012, ESTABLISHING A HUNTING SEASON FOR WOLVES AND AUTHORIZING ANNUAL WOLF HUNTING SEASONS PROPOSAL 14-2 A REFERENDUM OF PUBLIC ACT 21 of 2013, GRANTING THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION THE POWER TO DESIGNATE WOLVES AND CERTAIN OTHER ANIMALS AS GAME WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE ACTION

13. Detroit Free Press Photo

14. PROPOSAL 14-1A REFERENDUM OF PUBLIC ACT 520 OF 2012, ESTABLISHING A HUNTING SEASON FOR WOLVES AND AUTHORIZING ANNUAL WOLF HUNTING SEASONS Public Act 520 of 2012 would: • Designate wolf as gamefor hunting purposes and authorize the first wolf hunting season. • Allow the Natural Resources Commission to schedule annual wolf hunting seasons. • Provide criminal penalties for the unlawful possession or taking of wolves, but shield a person who lawfully captures or destroys a wolf from prosecution. • Require a person who wishes to hunt wolves to obtain a wolf hunting license. • Create a Wolf Management Advisory Council for the purpose of making nonbinding recommendations to the legislature regarding the proper management of wolves. Should this law be approved? Yes No

15. “YES” Vote Supporters Say: • Wolf populations should be managed through sound science to protect our livestock, pets and families. • The seven member Natural Resources Commission, appointed by the Governor, is best suited to consider scientific rationale for new game species or hunts. “Yes” vote supports PA 520 of 2012 and continues the designation of an annual wolf hunt to be managed by the Natural Resources Commission.

16. “Yes” Vote Supporters are: • Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management, a coalition of hunting and trapping organizations including Michigan United Conservation Clubs. • Website: www.citizenswildlife.org

17. “No” Vote Supporters Say: • Wolves were removed from federal protection in 2012 but are still a vulnerable population. • No sound science to justify wolf hunt. The public is safe. There have been no recorded human attacks in Michigan. Wolf meat is not consumed by people. • Wolves are a natural predator to deer and beavers, reducing their density. • The Natural Resources Commission is political appointees with no professional or competency job standards. “No” vote repeals PA 520 of 2012 which established an annual hunting season for wolves which is to be managed by the Natural Resources Commission and will temporarily halt the hunts.

18. “No” Voter Supporters are: • Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, a coalition of organizations including the Humane Society, other animal welfare groups, veterinarians, Native American tribes and wildlife biologists. • Website: www.keepwolvesprotected.com

19. PROPOSAL 14-2A REFERENDUM OF PUBLIC ACT 21 of 2013, GRANTING THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION THE POWER TO DESIGNATE WOLVES AND CERTAIN OTHER ANIMALS AS GAME WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE ACTION Public Act 21 of 2013 would: • Allow the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to designate certain animals as game for hunting purposes and establish the first hunting season for games without legislative action. • Continue the NRC’s designation of wolves as game and allow the NRC to set a wolf hunting season. • Grant the Legislature sole authority to remove a species from the list of designated game animals. • Eliminate the $1.00 hunting and fishing licensing fee for members of the military, whether stationed inside or outside of Michigan, subject to any lottery. • Give the NRC the sole authority to regulate fishing. Should this law be approved? Yes No

20. “YES” Vote Supporters Say: • The Natural Resources Commission will regulate game and fish seasons using sound science and management practices. • Allowing the Natural Resources Commission to make these decisions will prevent emotional decisions by the voters. “Yes” vote will allow the Natural Resources Commission to name game species and manage wildlife and fishery management decisions.

21. “Yes Vote Supporters are: • Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management, a coalition of hunting and trapping organizations including Michigan United Conservation Clubs. • Website: www.citizenswildlife.org

22. “No” Vote Supporters Say: • The seven member Natural Resources Commission is politically appointed by the Governor and is not required to meet any qualification to make species or fishery management decisions. • Michigan voters will not be able to reverse decisions made by the Natural Resources Commission because they are a regulatory body. “No” vote will repeal this law and temporarily halt wolf hunts and Natural Resources Committee power.

23. “No” Vote Supporters are: • Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, a coalition of organizations including the Humane Society, other animal welfare groups, veterinarians, Native American tribes and wildlife biologists. • Website: www.keepwolvesprotected.com

24. What did the Michigan Legislature do on wolf hunting? • Prior to 2012, wolves were not allowed to be hunted in MI • In 2012, the Michigan Legislature passed PA 520 of 2012 to designate wolf as game and allow the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to establish a wolf hunting season. • Keep Wolves Protected circulated petitions and submitted them to the Secretary of State to have a referendum on PA 520. • The Michigan Legislature passed PA 21 of 2013 to allow NRC to designate wolves as game for hunting and establish hunting season without legislative action. • Keep Wolves Protected again circulated petitions to have a referendum on PA 21 of 2013 and submitted enough signatures. • Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management circulated petitions to initiate a new law and submitted them to the Secretary of State in July 2014. The signatures were certified, and the initiative was submitted to the legislature. The Michigan Senate and Michigan House of Representatives passed PA 281 of 2014 in August.

25. What are the provisions of PA 281 of 2014, the Initiated Law, as passed? • Establishes the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act • Repeals PA 21 of 2013 • Contains an appropriation of $1 million to Asian carp prevention (voters cannot have a referendum on a law containing an appropriation) • Takes effect 91 days after end of legislative session • Allows game designation by the Natural Resource Commission • Allows for free hunting and fishing licenses to active duty military Michigan residents

26. What difference will my vote make on Proposal 14-1 or 14-2? • If the public votes NO on both 14-1 and 14-2, there will be a moratorium on wolf hunting until PA 281 goes into effect in March 2015 because the repeal of the bills removes the designation of wolves as game and the ability to establish wolf hunting season until PA 281 becomes law. • Additionally, there is a possibility that a group may file a lawsuit regarding the legality of the recently adopted initiative, PA 281, by the Legislature. If a court case says PA 281 is unconstitutional, the people’s vote on the Proposal 14-1 or 14-2 would take effect. • On September 11, 2014, the Natural Resource Commission that it would not act on a wolf hunt for the coming season, no matter what voters decide in the upcoming election. IF YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE WOLF HUNTING – it is important to vote on both issues.

27. Where do I go for a copy of my ballot and candidate information? • Go to www.Vote411.org • Get a paper copy of LWVMI Voter Guide • Go to www.LWVMI.org for copy of LWVMI printed guide, each individual federal/state race • Get a paper copy of your local LWVs Voter Guide, if available

28. League of Women Voters of Michigan • We are a non-partisan organization. • We never support or oppose a political candidate or party. • To join or for more information about the League, go to www.lwvmi.org

29. Are there any questions?