A total of 457 Jews were enabled to obtain absented ballots and participate in the Detroit municipal election, as a result of passage by the State Legislature of a resolution providing for absentee ballots whenever elections conflict with religious holidays.
The bill, a bi-partisan measure, was rushed through both Mousses and immediately sent to Gov. Mennen Williams for signature. Observant Jews, who wanted to participate in the city election, had only one day in which to obtain the absentee ballots. The number who voted in this way is therefore considered high. The law applies to all future elections without further legislative action being necessary in each conflict of elections and holidays.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
