By Mike Kruzman / news@whmi.com


A local clerk is concerned with the lack of direction for upcoming elections from the Governor’s recent executive order.

Brighton Township Clerk Joe Riker has written a letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer in response to the May 5th election day and Monday’s executive order for the temporary requirement to suspend activities that are not necessary to sustain or protect life. Riker cites the dangers of staff needing to work over 40 hours per week in close quarters leading up to the election, and then processing double the amount of absentee ballots which could carry coronavirus for 24 hours.

Riker says the May election moving forward is a contradiction to the executive order, and he is urging the governor to either cancel it or at least remove all ballot questions that are not necessary to sustain or protect life. A full copy of his letter to Whitmer can be found below.

On Monday, Riker's predecessor, State Rep. Ann Bollin, also called on the governor to cancel the May 5th election.