HOLLY TOWNSHIP — Nearly two years after four residents won seats on the Holly Township Parks Commission but failed to take the oath required to serve, voters will return Tuesday to try democracy again.
“The election worked,” said township spokesperson Todd Renwick, pointing to a chart labeled WIN OFFICE → BECOME OFFICIAL. “We just had some trouble with the second part.”
The commissioners were elected in November 2024 but missed the oath deadline, automatically vacating their seats. Officials described the incident as a rare procedural failure in which democracy functioned correctly but no one clicked “Finish.”
“This time, we’ve added safeguards,” Renwick said. “The congratulatory email will say IMPORTANT: YOU ARE NOT DONE YET, and every winner will receive a refrigerator magnet reading, ‘Remember To Become Park Commissioner.’”
Officials have also prepared a brief orientation covering how to take an oath, open township mail, and remain legally elected for more than several days.
All four Village and Township precincts will vote at Sherman Campus, where placing the entire election inside a school is expected to improve everyone’s ability to follow directions.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Winners are reminded that leaving the building does not count as taking the oath of office.