Absentee Ballots in the Upper Peninsula, Veteran Food and Insecurity, and More on Popular NMU Dean Resignation

Absentee Ballots in the Upper Peninsula

With so much national media attention on absentee/mail-in ballots, we thought we would check in around the UP on how the ballots applications are being received by local election officials in our cities, townships and counties. 

COVID is driving demand for absentee ballots in Michigan and around America, according to reports. In the August 2020 primary election in the City of Marquette, the overwhelming majority of votes cast was via absentee ballots.

Very few voters actually voted at polling places, according to the City Clerk’s office.

Marquette’s City Clerk, Kyle Whitney, tells us that there are more than 14,400 registered voters in the city. Already there are absentee ballot applications filed–over 5,300 on hand as of last week.

There is still time for more applications to be filed, and local election officials around the UP tell us they expect applications to continue to pour in during the coming weeks leading up to the November 3rd election.

Also, they tell us that voter turnout (at the polls or via absentee ballots) is typically high during presidential election years. In Marquette, voter turnout is around 60-70%. More to come later on UP voter activity.

On a personal note, 52 years ago from this coming election I cast my vote for the President of the United States from overseas while serving in the United States Air Force. Veterans all across America will tell you that is how they voted while serving their nation overseas. It worked quite well for all of us serving in overseas military roles. 

Veteran Food And Insecurity

We recently wrote here about a mobile food bank being held for veterans in Rapid River. It has been reported to us that over 230 veterans showed up in their cars to get needed food assistance.

They had to be able to prove they were veterans in order to get the assistance. Some cars had more than one veteran in the car for the drive-by food bank.

Again, 230 veterans in Rapid River lined up in their cars to get help with food for them and their families. Congratulations and thank you to all of the volunteers in Rapid River who help Upper Peninsula veterans.

So as we hear about COVID-related unemployment and families needing help getting food for their families, let’s remember that many of them are the men and women who risk their lives serving our nation.

These veterans and their families all deserve better than having to worry about where their next meal will come from. 

More on the Popular NMU Dean Resignation

Last week we wrote about the resignation of NMU Dean Bob Eslinger. We received so many supportive responses to that story and examples of Bob’s legacy.

We heard repeatedly that Bob was a great NMU Ambassador. It’s nice these days to read positive and supportive comments about one of our community leaders and citizens.

Quotes (That make you go hmm)

“Gross Domestic Misery (GDM) is rising. The recovery is bypassing those who need it most.” Paul Krugman. 

“The lies flew like a fertilizer spreader in a windstorm.” (Unknown source, but would love to meet him/her).

Book Recommendations

Do you have one to suggest to us and our readers? Please send us the title, author name and publication date. Send them to david@ruralinsights.org. None of the book suggestions we publish are endorsements of the book or the author, just suggestions for you to consider.

Book Recommendations from Rural Insight Readers

“To Build a Better World.” Condolezza Rice and Philip Zelikow. 2019.

Tell us what you would like to see us research and write about in Rural Insights:

Are there issues or ideas that you think are important to the Upper Peninsula that we should explore? We can’t guarantee that we will research every issue or idea that you send us, but we will take a hard look and see what we can find out.

Are there enough data and facts for us to publish, etc. Let us know what you are thinking about. Send your ideas, issues and thoughts to david@ruralinsights.org.

If you would like to write something for us please send it to us. We cannot promise to print everything we get, but we will read it and consider it for publication. Please include information on how to contact you if we want to discuss with you what you send us.

We are also interested in reading stories about how growing up in the Upper Peninsula impacted you: your value system, your family life, your professional like, etc.Tell us what it meant to the development of you. We look for 300 to 1000 words, approximately. We can’t promise to publish everything but we promise to read everything you send in and consider it for publication in our series called Rural Voices.