Clerk

Welcome

Welcome to the office of the Gaines Charter Township Clerk.  The Clerk's office oversees:

Staff

Voter Information

You are eligible to vote if you are:

• A resident of Michigan and the city or township where you are applying to register to vote for at least 30 days before Election Day
• A citizen of the United States
• At least 18 years old on or before the next election
• Not serving a sentence in jail or prison

You are not required to re-register for each election unless you have moved or changed your name. If you have moved and need to re-register, you can call the Clerk's office at 616-698-7980, or click this link to the Secretary of State's Office to make changes online. 

With the passage of Proposal 3 in November of 2018, new voters are now able to register to vote at the following locations up to 15 days in advance of an Election.

New voters are also able to register to vote in person at their local Clerk's Office 14 days in advance of an Election and up to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Proof of residency must be provided, either with a photo ID that matches the voter's address in the jurisdiction, or one of the following (showing name and current address):

• Current utility bill
• Bank statement
• Paycheck (stub)
• Government check
• Other government document

You can verify your voter registration by: Calling the Clerk's Office at 616-698-7980 or by clicking on the link below for the MVIC. 

Michigan Voter Information Center (MVIC) has additional information, such as:

• How do I register to vote?
• Find your clerk
• Absentee ballots
• Work at the Polls
• Local election calendar
• Map to your polling location

The MVIC has gone mobile ~ click here for details

Voter Application Forms

Click here to download a copy of the Voter Registration/Driver License/Change of Address Form.
Click here to download an Application for an Absentee Ballot.

Absentee Ballot Information

With the passage of Proposal 3 in November of 2018, all registered voters are now eligible to vote Absentee. If you would like to be placed on our permanent Absentee Voter list, you may contact us by phone or email. This would ensure that you automatically receive an application for an Absentee Ballot prior to every election that you are eligible to vote in. 
Absentee ballots MUST be delievered to the Clerk's office, or placed in one of the two drop boxes located within the Township:

     Township Hall                                                                      Gaines Township Library
     8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE                                                    421 68th Street
     Caledonia, MI 49316                                                            Grand Rapids, MI 49548

Precinct Locations

There are nine precincts in Gaines Charter Township.  For your convenience we have listed the precincts and their locations by number:

• Precinct 1 - Gaines Charter Township Offices, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE
• Precinct 2 - Gaines Charter Township Offices, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE
• Precinct 3 - Gaines Branch Library, 421 68th Street SE
• Precinct 4 - Heritage Baptist Church, 1570 60th Street SE
• Precinct 5 - Heritage Baptist Church, 1570 60th Street SE
• Precinct 6 - Hillside Community Church, 1440 68th Street SE
• Precinct 7 - Providence Christian Reformed Church, 7730 Eastern Ave. SE
• Precinct 8 - Ada Bible Church, 2045 68th Street SE
• Precinct 9 - Ada Bible Church, 2045 68th Street SE

Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) Requests

The Township Clerk's Office serves as Freedom of Information Act Coordinator for Gaines Charter Township.  Click  here for a FOIA Request and policy and procedure documents.

Accounting

The Clerk's Department will be able to answer your questions regarding Accounts Payable and Payroll.  Please feel free to contact the office during normal business hours:

Gaines Charter Township 
8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE Caledonia, MI 49316

Hours:  Monday -Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM
                               Fridays, 8:00 AM to Noon

For Accounts Payable:
616-698-6640 Ext. 134 or jade.duffield@gainestownship.org

For Payroll:
616-698-6640 Ext. 132 or amber.vandermolen@gainestownship.org

Cemetery Information

There are three cemeteries within the boundaries of Gaines Charter Township.  Currently, Blain Cemetery and Dutton Cemetery have lots available. Lots are $500.00 for Township residents and $2,000.00 for non-residents. 

• North Blain Cemetery:  1201 - 68th Street 
  South Blain Cemetery:  1201 - 68th Street
• Dutton Cemetery: 7000 Hanna Lake SE
• South Gaines Cemetery: 1601 92nd St., SE

The information contained on the cemetery maps was accurate as of their posting.  Please contact the Clerk's office to verify information.

Area cemetery finder

Answers to the most common questions reguarding cemeteries can be found in the following documents

• Gaines Charter Township Cemetery Ordinance
• Cemetery Rules and Regulations
• Cemetery Fee Schedule

Transparency And Accountability