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Roads, marijuana on May 5 East Lansing election ballot

May 4, 2015

With the state-wide May 5 election tomorrow, the City of East Lansing is preparing to accommodate all voters.

The polling location for precinct one voters has been temporarily changed to the IM Sports-West facility from Brody Hall because of the increased number of students who will be using the location to study for exams during finals week. 

East Lansing polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

The items on the ballot include a state-wide proposal to increase the sales and use tax to supplement reduced revenue to the School Aid Fund. Taxes would go toward fixing roads across the state. 

Proposal 15-1 would raise the state of Michigan's sales tax from 6 to 7 percent and increase the tax on gasoline and diesel fuel to adjust annually for inflation. Vehicle registration fees would increase as well, with the dedicated revenue going directly to roads, bridges and other transportation projects.

In East Lansing, however, there are two significant local items on the ballot. 

The first would amend the East Lansing City Charter so that city council would require a simple majority to sell publicly owned property, rather than the three-fifths majority currently in place. 

Mayor Nathan Triplett has been very vocal about passing this proposal so City Council can proceed with the sale of blighted property.

In addition, the second local amendment would effectively decriminalize marijuana in East Lansing. However, this charter amendment would not affect MSU's campus.

The City Clerk's office remained open Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in order to issue and receive absentee voter ballots for the May 5, 2015 Special Statewide Election. Absentee ballots must be returned to the office by 8 p.m. on election day. 

Registered voters can also choose to fill out an absentee ballot in person at the City Clerk's Office until 4 p.m. on Monday, May 4.

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