Despite a state "elections consolidation" law that went into effect two years ago, the pace of elections in Leelanau County has remained brisk due to an unusual number of ballot proposals, recalls, and other issues facing voters in recent years, according to county clerk Michelle Crocker.

“It seems like we’ve had issues to vote on for each of the four dates now allowed for regular elections under the new law,” Crocker said.

Voters have until Tuesday, Oct. 9, to register for the next scheduled election, the Nov. 6 General Election.

Although the November election is sometimes the busiest with the highest number of issues on the ballot, most Leelanau County voters this year will decide only one issue – a millage proposal to support the Bay Area Transportation Authority.

BATA is asking voters in both Leelanau and Grand Traverse counties to renew a .35-mill property tax levy that helps pay for bus service in the region.

Voters in a portion of Solon and Elmwood Township as well as a small part of the City of Traverse City that is located in Leelanau County, will decide other issues.

Voters living in Elmwood Township will be asked to approve a 1.282-mill levy to fund the township’s fire department.

The Traverse City Area Public School district (TCAPS) is asking voters in Traverse City as well as portions of Solon and Elmwood townships to approve a bond proposal to pay for improvements to school buildings. The estimated millage that would be levied in 2008 would be .36-mill.

So far, only TCAPS has “consolidated” school elections with other elections in November. The four other public school districts in Leelanau County all continue hold elections in May.

Crocker said there are currently around 18,300 people registered to vote in Leelanau County, all of whom will be eligible to vote on the BATA millage proposal.

Of those, some 3,396 registered voters in Elmwood Township, 749 voters in Solon Township and 107 voters in the Leelanau County portion of Traverse City will be able to cast ballots on the TCAPS bond proposal – a total of 4,252 voters.

Only the 3,396 voters registered in Elmwood Township will be able to vote on the township fire department millage proposal.

“The result of this is that there needs to be more than one ballot available for voters in each of those municipalities depending on which school district they live in, their precinct, or whether they live in Traverse City,” Crocker said. “Anticipating how many ballots should be ordered in each case can be challenging, but the main thing we don’t want to do on election day is run out of ballots,” she said.

Another wrinkle unique to the upcoming election is a new requirement that voters produce some sort of photo identification.

“I think it’s kind of interesting that an ID is not required for someone to get an absentee ballot,” Crocker said, “and there are still a lot of questions about this requirement, but we’ll do our best. I figure if people drive to the polls to vote, they ought to have their drivers license with them.”

The ID can come from any number of sources, but must include the voter’s name and photo. It does not need to include an address.

Voters who do not have photo ID on them may still vote after signing an affidavit.

Another wrinkle being encountered this fall by the county clerk, township clerks and other election officials is the impact of a new Presidential Primary date, now slated for Jan. 15, 2008.

“A lot of the dates and deadlines for the November election are overlapping with those of the Presidential Primary,” said Crocker, “so it can get confusing if you’re not careful.”

For example, the deadline to present ballot wording for county and local proposals in the Jan. 15 election must be certified by local clerks by Nov. 6 – election day.

On Tuesday – the deadline for voters to register for the Nov. 9 election – nominees appearing on the Presidential Primary ballot must meet a deadline to file affidavits with the Michigan Secretary of State.