By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Once again, a retirement community in Novi is establishing itself as much more than just a place to live. 

This month, for the first time ever, residents at Fox Run will be able to cast their votes at their very own voting precinct.

“We have about 900 registered voters at Fox Run,” says Maryanne Cornelius, Novi’s city clerk. “As the community continues to grow, this is a great opportunity for them to vote.”

Fox Run is breaking new ground
According to Cornelius, there are other retirement communities in the area, but only Fox Run will have its own voting precinct.

“The other communities aren’t as populated as Fox Run,” she says. “Fox Run has the highest rate of voter participation.”

A single precinct will be set up at one of Fox Run’s central locations. Several residents there have applied to be precinct inspectors and  have received official training from the city.

“Every election we hold eight to ten different training classes,” Cornelius says. “We even have a mock precinct so people can see how it will be set up.”

The city will also send several of its own seasoned inspectors, who will be on hand to help guide the process at Fox Run.

“Andrea Peragine [Fox Run’s senior community services manager] has always bent over backwards to make sure we have everything we need,” Cornelius says. “She helped out with the census a while back.”

Cornelius and her staff have been coordinating with Peragine to make sure everything goes as planned for their first official election at Fox Run.

Special delivery
A day before the election, all of the necessary voting equipment will be delivered to the community.

“We have had several residents turn in applications to be precinct inspectors, and they will hopefully be working at our first election,” Peragine says.

There will be many extra inspectors and volunteers on hand to help fill in during breaks.

“We always staff more than necessary,” Cornelius says.