ON THE ROAD WITH TONY...
Welcome to our November newsletter! The picture highlighted in this month's newsletter is my youngest grandson and I watching TV and enjoying the Lions victory.
The November 5th Presidential Election is fast approaching, and I am sure that if you are like me, you cannot wait for all the political commercials to end!
On Saturday, October 26th, Macomb County will begin nine consecutive days of "Early In-Person Voting." In-person voting allows a voter to cast their issued ballot in-person into the tabulator, just like Election Day. Early Voting runs through Sunday, November 3rd. To find your Early Voting location, visit macombgov.org/earlyvoting
Of course, there are other options to make it easy for you to cast your vote. For example, if you received your absentee ballot in the mail, please go ahead fill it out, send it in, or drop it off at your local city or township clerk location's "dropbox," or you can even bring your absent ballot to your Early Voting location (or even your Election Day polling location), where you can actually put your absent ballot into the tabulator.
And, if you prefer, you can always vote on Election Day -- Tuesday, November 5th from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. -- In-person or dropbox.
Visit macombgov.org/elections to find your polling location, check your voting status, check the status of your absent voter ballot, download an absent voter ballot application, find your local clerk’s hours of operation and contact information, or even view a sample ballot.
Bottom line -- Get out and vote!
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 Macomb County Clerk Anthony G. Forlini (left) and Chief Election Clerk Michael Grix display a watermarked paper ballot. (A portion of the ballot has a lightbox behind it to magnify the watermark.)
Clerk’s Office Adds Watermarks to
Paper Ballots for November Election
In an effort to continue to ensure integrity in the election process, Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini has added watermarks to ballots in the upcoming Presidential Election in November.
Each ballot, when held up to light, reveals the watermark: “Official Ballot.” The security of the watermark comes from it being embedded into the fibers of the ballot paper during the milling process, as opposed to it simply being printed onto the paper.
“We believe the Macomb County Clerk's Office has set a new standard for the security and integrity of our elections,” said Clerk Forlini. “The Clerk’s Office also launched the first ever countywide election worker training to assist local clerks and standardize election day workers’ competency. Competent workers are the backbone to protect our election process.”
Macomb County was the only county to do a forensic audit of the election server following the 2020 elections. This allowed the Clerk’s Office to set up new enhanced security protocols for future elections.
The office also introduced the first-ever Campaign Finance Electronic Filing System, which reduces unneeded bureaucracy, saving the county money and helping to make campaign finance reports more accurate and easier to be compliant.
“All these changes have helped restore confidence in our elections,” said Clerk Forlini, “while other election law changes like ‘Early In-Person Voting’ have made it more convenient for our voters to submit safe, tabulated ballots. Voters can also submit their absentee ballots at Early Voting sites, and have them tabulated in-person, an experience similar to voting on Election Day.”
In-person voting will be open to all Macomb County voters leading up to the Nov. 5, 2024 Election. In-person voting will begin on Saturday, Oct. 26 and end on Sunday, Nov. 3. In-person voting resumes on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Each community has their own specific early voting site and hours. For more information, contact your local city/township clerk or visit macombgov.org/earlyvoting.
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Clerk Forlini Named 2024 Columbus Day
‘Man of the Year’ by Celebration Committee
Macomb County Clerk Anthony G. Forlini was named the Columbus Day “Man of the Year” by the Detroit Area Columbus Day Celebration Committee and was honored during the 2024 Columbus Day Banquet at the Italian American Cultural Center in Clinton Twp. on Sunday, October 13.
“Anthony Forlini has always been a strong leader and advocate in our Italian American Community. He has been a shining example of how to give back to the Italian American Community with his willingness to go above and beyond, actively seeking ways to help, support and make the community better and stronger,” said Columbus Day Celebration Committee President Lisa Valerio-Nowc.
Also honored will be "Woman of the Year" Mary Smith of the Venetian Club of Mutual Aid and "Humanitarian of the Year" Hon. Joseph Toia, who is the 16th Judicial Circuit Court Judge.
Clerk Forlini, the son of an Italian immigrant, has made multiple trips to Italy, establishing ties between schools and businesses and introducing American culture to Italy and vice versa.
“Clerk Forlini brings Italian work ethic and community spirit to our office,” said Deputy Register of Deeds Jennifer Walker. “He recognizes the importance of family, and uses the same family-based philosophies when overseeing the large staff of the Clerk’s Office.”
In his many visits to Italy, he brought Italian and American students together. In 2013 he helped establish a sister school program with a High School in Perugia Italy and Lake Shore Public Schools. Then after multiple visits to Cassino, Italy, he signed a sister school program in June of 2018 with an advanced studies High School in Cassino, Italy, and L’anse Creuse School District. Over 150 students are enrolled in Italian classes this year alone.
“Obviously I am very honored to receive this Columbus Day award and to be in a position to share my American heritage with the students of Italy as well as sharing the deep Italian heritage of my parents, hopefully being a good role model for students in America,” said Clerk Forlini.
Columbus Day has been celebrated in the Detroit area since 1896, while the first official celebration recognized by local and state authorities was in 1909.
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Happy Halloween from the Clerk's Office
We participated in several "trick or treating" events around Macomb County during the month, a great diversion from all the pre-election politics! These events remind us of the importance of children and family and sharing!
Happy Halloween
to
everyone!
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Clerk Forlini Attends State-Sponsored 'Defending Democracy Town Hall'
 Macomb County Clerk Anthony G. Forlini participated in the “Defending Democracy Town Hall” in Sterling Heights, alongside Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie, and Sterling Heights City Clerk Melanie Ryska. During the event, Clerk Forlini answered questions from the public and engaged in discussions about processes that Macomb County has put in place to safeguard elections.
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V I D E O F E A T U R E
Straight Party Voting Options
Clerk Forlini discusses the options when voting "Straight Party" on your November Election ballot.
CLICK HERE to play video
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Early In-Person Voting for Upcoming November 3rd Presidential Election!
Early voting allows a voter to cast and tabulate their ballot in person, prior to Election Day, in an experience similar to voting on Election Day.
Early Voting will be open to all Macomb County voters leading up to the November 5, 2024 Election, Early Voting will begin on Saturday, October 26th and end on Sunday, November 3rd.
Each community has their own specific early voting site and hours. For more information, contact your local city/township clerk or visit:
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