MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Ahead of Election Day, a group of local volunteers spent their Sunday learning how to be the eyes at the polls.
Students, retirees, and other residents finished their training Sunday at Northern Michigan University as nonpartisan election observers with the Michigan Election Observation Project, a statewide effort sponsored by The Carter Center.
Marquette is the only Upper Peninsula county in the project. The observers were trained on Michigan election law and procedure, and they signed a pledge to stay impartial and not interfere with election workers or voters. On Tuesday they’ll be at polling places across the county, recording what they see on standardized forms so reports from around the state can be compared.
U.P. Regional Coordinator Max Bone says the volunteers’ commitment stood out. “It’s honestly humbling that so many students would first of all give up their Sunday, the day after Halloween, to sit in a training that went from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM to learn about the electoral process,” says Bone. “Then they’ll also be at a polling location at 6:30 AM through the closing of the polls on Tuesday.”
The project will release a public statement of its findings after the election. More information is available at meop.org
