Change to Voting Precincts

What Has Changed?

The City of Walker is divided into 3 Wards. Each ward previously had 3 precincts, but they will now be consolidated into just 2 precincts. Affected voters will see a different precinct number on their voter ID card and ballot and may have a new polling location, but the voting process will remain the same.

Will I Be Notified If I'm Affected?

Yes! Once the Michigan Bureau of Elections updated the voter registration database with the new precinct changes, the City Clerk’s Office sent out new voter ID cards to all voters in late spring 2025, which provided their updated precinct and polling location information.

Updates have been made and are posted on the Elections Information webpage.

Why Are These Changes Happening?

With an increasing number of voters opting for mail-in or early in-person voting, state law now allows for a higher number of voters per precinct, up to 4,999. The passing of Senate Bill 573 of 2023 (PA 227 of 2023) raised the precinct size limit from 2,999 to 4,999 voters per precinct, facilitating the consolidation of precincts.

Since the passing of Proposal 3 in 2018, allowing ‘No Reason’ absentee voting, and Proposal 2 in 2022, implementing 9 days of early voting, the Clerk’s Office has observed a decrease of in-person voting on election day. For example, the total number of ballots cast in-person for an even-year November elections have decreased from 9,443 in 2016 to 5,618 in 2024. As voters become more aware of early voting, we anticipate that in-person voting on election day will continue to decline and that each voting method—early voting, absentee ballots, and election day voting—will average one-third of the total votes cast.

The cost of elections continues to rise. By condensing precincts, we estimate savings of $7,000 to $11,500 per election, along with reduced costs related to election equipment and supplies. This allows us to hire fewer election workers, eliminate some non-city-owned precincts, and lower programming and maintenance costs.

The Clerk’s department is confident that increasing the number of voters per precinct will not have an impact on election administration. While this change may increase the average number of voters in precincts on election day, we know our polling locations and workers can accommodate this. This change will also allow Clerk staff to respond more efficiently, as there will be at least four staff members dedicated to assisting the six precincts instead of nine.

Impact of Mail-In Voting

If you vote by mail, your precinct number may have changed on your ballot, but the voting process will remain the same. If you are on the permanent absentee ballot list or the permanent application list, you do not need to resubmit your forms.

Have More Questions?

We understand you may have questions, and the City of Walker is committed to helping residents successfully cast their votes. For more information, please visit the City’s Election page or email us at elections@walker.city

What About My Precinct Delegates?

We advise that you contact the Kent County Clerk’s Office to ask any questions regarding precinct delegates.
300 Monroe Avenue NW
County Administration Building
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2288
Phone: 616-632-7650
Fax: 616-632-7655
Email: michael.sullivan@kentcountymi.gov