St Joseph, Michigan Public Records

The St. Joseph, Michigan, Police Department is responsible for maintaining public records related to law enforcement activities, including incident reports, arrest records, and crime statistics. Residents can access these records by visiting the department's website at http://www.sjcity.com/inside.php?a=PG:43 or by submitting a public records request.

St. Joseph voters receive election services from the Berrien County Clerk/Register of Deeds, Elections Division, located at 701 Main Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085 (phone: 269-983-7111, extension 8095, website: www.berriencounty.org/clerk). The County Clerk serves as the chief election official for Berrien County, coordinating all federal, state, county, and local elections, maintaining voter registration records, managing absentee voting, and certifying election results. The office provides candidate filing services, processes nominating petitions, and publishes sample ballots and voter information.

Michigan residents can register to vote online at the Michigan Voter Information Center (www.michigan.gov/vote), which provides online registration for new voters and address updates for registered voters. Michigan offers same-day voter registration, allowing eligible residents to register and vote at their city or township clerk's office during early voting periods and on Election Day. To register, Michigan residents must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and residents of Michigan and their city or township for at least 30 days before the election. No specific identification is required to register, though providing a Michigan driver's license or state ID number is requested. Voters without a Michigan ID can provide the last four digits of their Social Security number.

St. Joseph operates as a city under Michigan's home rule charter and holds municipal elections for Mayor and City Commissioners. The City of St. Joseph has seven elected commissioners serving staggered four-year terms, with elections held in odd-numbered years (most recently November 2023, next in November 2025 and 2027). The Mayor is elected at-large. Municipal candidate filings and local ballot questions are managed through the St. Joseph City Clerk's office at City Hall, 700 Broad Street (phone: 269-983-0700). City elections may appear on the November general election ballot or in designated off-cycle elections depending on charter provisions.

St. Joseph residents can find their assigned polling place using the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote by entering their name and date of birth or address. The system displays polling location address, hours, and sample ballot. St. Joseph typically has multiple precincts with polling places at locations including schools, community centers, and municipal buildings. Early voting is available at designated sites for nine days before Election Day, including the Saturday and Sunday before the election.

Michigan election records available to the public include the Qualified Voter File (voter registration list), which can be purchased by political committees and certain organizations under MCL 168.522 and 168.523; campaign finance disclosure reports filed by candidates and committees, searchable through the Michigan Secretary of State's campaign finance database; candidate filing documents and nominating petitions; and precinct-level election results. The Berrien County Clerk publishes unofficial election results on election night and certified results following the county canvass. In the November 2024 presidential election, Berrien County reported approximately 60% voter turnout with roughly 90,000 ballots cast from approximately 115,000 registered voters, reflecting strong participation in the presidential race.

On November 3, 2026, St. Joseph and Berrien County voters will decide multiple significant races. At the federal level, Michigan's U.S. Senate seat currently held by Gary Peters will be on the ballot (his term expires January 2027). All of Michigan's U.S. House seats, including the district representing St. Joseph (currently Michigan's 5th Congressional District), will be contested. State-level races include Governor (Governor Gretchen Whitmer's current term expires January 2027), Secretary of State, Attorney General, and all 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives (state representatives serve two-year terms). State Senate seats in even-numbered districts will be on the ballot (Michigan senators serve four-year staggered terms). At the county level, Berrien County offices on the ballot in 2026 include County Commissioners (odd-numbered districts in the 11-member board), County Clerk/Register of Deeds, County Treasurer, County Prosecutor (four-year term expiring 2026), and County Sheriff (four-year term expiring 2026). Circuit Court and District Court judgeships may also be on the ballot if terms expire in 2026. St. Joseph city elections are scheduled for odd-numbered years, so no city races are expected on the November 2026 ballot unless a special election is called.

Michigan voters can request absentee ballots without providing a reason under a 2018 constitutional amendment. Applications for absentee ballots can be submitted online through the Michigan Voter Information Center, by mail, or in person at the St. Joseph City Clerk's office (for city residents) at 700 Broad Street. Applications must be received by 5:00 PM the Friday before Election Day, but voters can request and cast an absentee ballot in person at the clerk's office up to 8:00 PM on Election Day. Once registered on the permanent absentee voter list, voters automatically receive applications for each election. Completed absentee ballots must be returned by 8:00 PM on Election Day either by mail (postmarks do not count—ballots must be received by deadline), by drop box (many municipalities provide 24-hour secure drop boxes), or in person at the clerk's office.