Editing Branch County, Michigan (section)

==Government==
Branch County has been reliably Republican since the party's founding. Since 1884, the Republican Party nominee has carried 85% of the elections (29 of 34).
{{PresHead|place=Branch County, Michigan|source=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS US Election Atlas]</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|14,848|5,911|330|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|14,064|6,159|350|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|11,786|5,061|816|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|10,035|6,913|199|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|9,534|8,413|338|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|10,784|7,004|179|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,743|6,691|349|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|6,321|6,567|1,917|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5,976|5,850|4,767|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|9,225|5,231|75|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|11,004|3,860|81|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|10,224|4,635|1,371|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|8,251|6,301|250|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|8,388|4,887|251|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|7,071|4,518|1,065|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|5,110|7,858|66|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|8,752|4,759|76|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|8,856|3,827|61|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|9,215|3,564|105|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|6,323|3,405|299|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|7,155|3,406|48|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|7,400|4,318|46|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|5,528|5,425|422|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,663|5,685|292|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,818|2,266|66|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|6,016|2,253|1,033|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,704|2,181|296|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,100|3,062|194|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,865|2,185|2,143|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|3,715|2,402|346|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|4,385|1,598|306|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|4,293|3,419|132|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|3,596|3,976|148|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|3,271|2,161|1,152|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|4,098|2,739|566|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Republican|3,671|2,958|420|Michigan}}

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

===Elected officials===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting Attorney]]: Zachary Stempien<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countyofbranch.com/departments/25|title=County of Branch ::|website=www.countyofbranch.com|access-date=March 23, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Sheriff]]: John Pollack<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countyofbranch.com/departments/28|title=County of Branch ::|website=www.countyofbranch.com|access-date=March 23, 2017}}</ref>
* [[County Clerk]]: Terry Kubasiak<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countyofbranch.com/departments/9|title=County of Branch ::|website=www.countyofbranch.com|access-date=March 23, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]]: Steven Rutz<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countyofbranch.com/departments/29|title=County of Branch ::|website=www.countyofbranch.com|access-date=March 23, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Register of Deeds]]: Nyci DeLoach<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countyofbranch.com/departments/26|title=County of Branch ::|website=www.countyofbranch.com|access-date=March 23, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Drain Commissioner]]: Michael Hard<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countyofbranch.com/departments/14|title=County of Branch ::|website=www.countyofbranch.com|access-date=March 23, 2017}}</ref>
* [[County Surveyor]]: Edward W. Reed<ref name=BRCO/>
* [[County commission|County Commissioners]]: Tim Stoll, Tom Matthew, Alan McClellan, Jon Houtz, Randall Hazelbaker<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countyofbranch.com/departments/8|title=County of Branch ::|website=www.countyofbranch.com|access-date=March 23, 2017}}</ref>
{{div col end}}
<small>Information correct as of March 2017.</small>