Muskegon Voting Trailer Providing Increased Voting Accessibility for Residents

Trailers come in all shapes and sizes and have an endlessamount of uses, from hauling equipment to experiential marketing, from carryingcars to serving as a mobile office, and more. The city of Muskegon, Mich. isusing a trailer in another timely and tangible way this month.

Muskegon City Clerk Ann Meisch received a grant for electionadministration, so in addition to securing a new voting tabulation machine toallow votes to be counted more quickly and efficiently, she also purchased a 16-footMTI concession trailer from Advantage Trailer.

The trailer features a flip-up concession window, interiorstorage cabinets, and was wrapped to reflect its purpose: a mobile voterregistration site and polling place. The city will take it to various neighborhoods,schools, and community centers, giving residents the opportunity to registerand submit an absentee ballot without having to travel very far or wait in longlines.

“I actually had a lot of excitement about getting to the seniorhigh rises that we have around here and how difficult it is,” Meisch toldFox 17. “Some of those are so close to us, but yet so far when you don'thave transportation.”

Staff working the trailer will be able to issue absenteeballots, collect ballots, register voters, and answer questions from the trailerand it also helps ease the burden on the postal system. A schedule of locationsfor the first week can be found at muskegonvotes.com and Meisch is excitedabout the ability to capture what is expected to be record-breaking turnout.

“I think even one is a success to me honestly,” Meisch toldFox 17. “Just offering that opportunity for people to have that chance, not tohave to worry about having to get down to city hall. Especially our seniors, Ilook to them, and I think it’s going to be really, really big.” 

Could you, your city, or your business use a trailer? Give us a call at 630-524-2029 today.