Fennville City Commission election in November will be write-in only

FENNVILLE — Four seats on the Fennville City Commission up for election this November will be write-in only.

All four candidates who filed for the Nov. 7 election — Mayor Dan Rastall, commissioners Shawn Machan and John Jamros and newcomer Sarah Sliter — had their filing rejected. Current commissioner Jim Hayden is not seeking reelection.

City clerk Morgan Hummon explained that the candidates were rejected for a variety of reasons. Candidates must submit petitions with valid signatures of qualified voters and an affidavit of identity to successfully appear on the ballot.

“One had the wrong date on the petition itself, and as a result did not have enough valid signatures,” Hummon said. “Then we had one who, due to a signature that moved from the area, no longer had enough valid signatures. Both of those were rejected for not having an adequate amount of signatures.

“Two of the candidates, the affidavit of identity was filled out incorrectly and missing information. Those petitions were valid, but the affidavits were invalid.”

Allegan County Clerk Bob Genetski said the affidavit of identity form changes frequently, so even incumbents might be seeing a new form when filing.

“Even the candidates who have done this before, they really only do this once every four years. It’s not something they do every day,” Genetski said. “The ones that had errors for Fennville, those were brand new forms. Last time they ran, if those candidates ran four years ago, it was a completely different form.”

Genetski said mistakes with signatures and affidavits “happen from time to time” and “could happen anywhere to any candidate.”

Candidates now have the option to register as write-in candidates. As of Wednesday morning, Aug. 16, two people had filed as write-in candidates for Fennville City Commission — Shawn Machan and Sarah Sliter.

Any registered voter in the Fennville city limits is eligible to file as a write-in candidate. To do so, a Write-In Declaration of Intent form must be filed by 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. There is no limit to the number of candidates who can file as a write-in.

For voters, it’s important to note that although they are free to write-in whatever names they choose, only votes cast for registered write-in candidates will count. The four registered candidates who receive the most votes will be elected.

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Those planning to vote absentee should note the Oct. 27 deadline for write-ins to declare. Absentee ballots must be available to voters by Sept. 28, Hummon said, but write-ins still have nearly a month to declare, meaning some ballots could be cast before all candidates are in the race.

Hummon also noted that write-in candidate names will not be posted at polling places. However, voters are allowed to ask the presiding clerk the names of any declared write-in candidates.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Fennville City Commission election in November will be write-in only