Duties of the County Clerk

The Bay County Clerk files and maintains all vital records including Birth, Death and Marriage certificates. Records date back as far as 1867.

The County Clerk serves as the Chief Election Officer and maintains an accreditation with the State of Michigan. The Clerk programs Optical Scan voting equipment to be utilized in every election. Legislation effective 1/1/05 places the County Clerk in charge of all school elections.

The County Clerk, with the assistance of local clerks, maintains a highly advanced statewide voter registration system known as QVF, the Qualified Voter File. Many states have followed the lead of Michigan election officials in this technology.

Campaign Finance reporting is held accountable under the watchful eye of the Clerk who files and scrutinizes reports of candidates, ballot question committees, and independent committees.

The office also secures military discharge records, verifies notary public applications for the state, and concealed weapons permits.

The County Clerk is also Clerk of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court and maintains all court files.

The Clerk is a member of various committees by virtue of the office including: Plat Board;  Board of Canvassers; Apportionment Committee;  Election Commission; and Bay County Board of Commissioners.