Nancy L. M. Banks, a Certified Municipal Clerk, was elected as City Clerk in November, 1999. Ms. Banks, a lifelong Southfield resident was a 25-year Clerk's Office employee prior to her election as Clerk.
Ms. Banks is a graduate of Southfield High School, Oakland Community College and the Michigan Political Leadership Program. Since obtaining the professional designation of Certified Municipal Clerk from Michigan State University's Michigan Municipal Clerk's Institute, Ms. Banks has continued her studies for the Master Municipal Clerks designation.
Among her most noteworthy accomplishments are:
- Implementation of the State of Michigan's Qualified Voter File (QVF), a distributed database which ties Michigan's 1,515 cities and townships to a statewide voter registration file;
- The launch of the new M-100 optical scan voting system in Southfield (May 2005). This new system, approved and purchased with federal dollars provided under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), was the voting system of choice for all jurisdictions in Oakland County, as well as the State of Michigan. Southfield voters now fill-in an oval on a printed ballot which is then inserted into the tabulator. Paper ballots, punch cards and lever machines are now a part of American history;
- Introducing the AutoMark system to Southfield voters and members of the disability community (August 2006), a ballot marking device which allows voters to cast ballots without assistance. The new AutoMARK system resembles a fax machine, and is available at every polling location. This system offers voters with disabilities the same opportunity for access and participation on Election Day that all other voters enjoy. The AutoMARK ballot marking device allows voters who have a physical disability or are blind, visually impaired or otherwise unable to mark a ballot in the usual way to do so independently. The screen magnification and contrast features make it a useful tool for seniors even if they are not actually sight-impaired.
Federal funds valued at more than $516,000 for the City of Southfield, paid for the purchase of the new M-100 optical scan tabulators, the AutoMARK voter assist terminals, and related software to replace the old punch card voting system which had been used for almost three decades;
- In January 2003, the City Clerk’s Office acquired the designation of a Passport Acceptance Agency from the U.S. Department of State, which authorizes members of the City Clerk’s Office to handle U.S. passport applications and inquiries. The Southfield Passport Program generates sizeable additional revenue for the City of Southfield.
- In March, 2003, City Clerk Banks obtained City Council approval for a precinct consolidation plan, reducing the number of voting precincts from 50 to 43, trimming the number of voting locations from 25 to 19 and eliminating single-precinct voting locations. The precinct consolidation plan saves tax dollars in both personnel and equipment.
- City Clerk Banks launched the use of laptop computers at the polling precincts to aid Southfield voters and election workers alike. The laptop program, with the support and assistance of Lawrence Technological University, placed Southfield voter information at the fingertips of election workers allowing them to verify the precinct number and location of the voter. This was especially useful in the first year of the precinct consolidation plan. In addition to new Voter Identification Cards being put into circulation, the laptop computers helped direct voters to their proper new precinct and polling location.
Other accomplishments of City Clerk Banks include the creation of an Election Newsletter, complete with sample ballots and voter information; informational guides on proposed Charter amendments; mock elections and voter registration fairs for Southfield students; and renovation of the City Clerk's Office, including new computers and improved software programs.
Always looking toward the future, City Clerk Banks strives to improve communication with Southfield residents. With a focus on voter education, City Clerk Banks hires high school students to work alongside seasoned election inspectors on Election Day. The students earn money to offset school activities and gain valuable experience about the election process and government.
Ms. Banks is a member of numerous professional organizations.