BENTON HARBOR — When state of Michigan citizens approved Proposal Three with 67 percent of the vote in the November 2018 election, they approved a constitutional amendment to improve ballot access and voting ease.

Berrien County Clerk Sharon Tyler wants to ensure that everyone knows of the changes so they can vote in the easiest way possible.

So, she is hosting an informational session on Proposal Three’s impact at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, at the conference room of the Berrien County Health Department at 2149 E. Napier Avenue in Benton Harbor.

The informational session comes ahead of elections for Benton Harbor mayor and council members and Benton Harbor and St. Joseph commissioners.

“We want everybody to make sure their vote counts,” Tyler said. “We don’t want people to be torn away.”

The session will start with a presentation, which will describe what Proposal Three wrote into the Michigan Constitution and what its amendment means to citizens. It will be followed with a question and answer section.

The amendment allows citizens to obtain an absentee ballot without needing a reason; both register to vote with proof of residency and obtain a ballot up to Election Day; and become automatically registered when applying for, updating or renewing a driver’s license or state-issued identification card.

The proposal also sets previous election-related laws in the Constitution, such as straight-ticket voting, the right to use secret ballots and military members’ and overseas voters’ rights to receive absentee ballots at least 45 days before an election.

“I know our legislators and our secretary of state,” Tyler said. “There may be certain tweaking and stuff to make improvements, but it won’t change Proposal Three. It’s just going to make sure things are better.”

The county clerk hopes her informational session will not only raise awareness of Michigan’s new constitutional amendments but provide easy steps on the voting process.

“I think people need to realize that you don’t have to have a reason to get an [absentee ballot],” she said. “I think people were a little more cautious. It used to be you had to be a certain age or had a reason and everything like that. That’s all gone.”

Tyler mentioned two voting changes that she found impactful.

First is a change that would require post-election audits. The audits had been in effect through a statute, but they are now part of constitutional law.

Tyler thinks audits ensure nothing suspicious arises in the ballots and informs county clerks of misfunctioning voting machines. Now, clerks can audit for years to come.

She also appreciated a change that would allow 17.5-year-old children to obtain their driver’s licenses to register to vote at secretary of state offices.

League of Women Voters of Berrien and Cass Counties communications coordinator John Ripley appreciates the change, too.

“I think it’s really fun to register high school students, and they feel good about becoming part of the election process,” he said. “We want them to learn as much about the democratic process as possible.”

The local League of Women Voters is hosting its own informational session. “Let’s Talk About Voting Rights” will take place at 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Berrien Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4340 Lincoln Ave., St. Joseph.

“Active participation in voting is at the head of our democracy, and that is the foundation of the League of Women Voters,” Ripley said.

No registration is required for either event.