Editing Benzie County, Michigan (section)

==Government==
For most of its history, Benzie County has primarily supported Republican presidential candidates, with the only times they failed to carry to the county prior to 1992 being in 1912 & 1964. Starting with the 1992 election, the county has become a Republican-leaning bellwether county, with 2012 and 2020 being the only two presidential elections it did not vote for the national winner from 1980 on as of 2024.
{{PresHead|place=Benzie County, Michigan|source=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|6,895|5,780|196|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,601|5,480|181|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,539|4,108|581|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,075|4,685|141|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|4,687|5,451|171|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,284|4,383|111|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,172|3,546|354|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,856|3,081|848|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,438|2,715|1,699|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,240|2,437|55|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,590|1,866|46|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,054|1,842|602|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|3,085|1,891|62|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,686|1,310|58|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,138|1,147|225|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,674|1,983|5|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,484|1,306|5|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,620|1,046|15|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,752|980|36|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,013|964|112|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,026|1,084|32|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|2,320|1,429|16|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|1,742|1,686|230|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|1,595|1,432|149|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,849|321|24|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,922|198|483|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,520|422|169|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|900|770|237|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|568|326|1,019|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,437|551|294|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,582|295|259|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,472|626|123|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,366|803|93|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|774|498|203|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|710|412|111|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Republican|556|380|77|Michigan}}

The county government operates the [[County jail|jail]], maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts,
keeps files of deeds and mortgages, maintains [[vital records]], administers [[public health]] regulations, and
participates with the state in the provision of welfare and other social services. The [[county commission|county board of commissioners]] controls the budget but has only limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In
Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street
maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

===Elected officials===
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting Attorney]]: Sara Swanson
* [[Sheriff]]: Kyle Rosa
* [[County Clerk]]: Tammy Bowers
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]]: Kelly Long
* [[Register of Deeds]]: Paula Eberhart
* [[Drain Commissioner]]: Edward Hoogterp
* [[County Surveyor]]: John Smendzuik
<ref>[http://www.benzieco.net/ Welcome to Benzie County, Michigan<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

<small>(information as of September 2005)</small>