Terms of Service
Last updated: March 20, 2026
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using 9th District Poll ("the Site"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.
2. Nature of Content
The Site publishes public opinion polls, publicly available information, and news coverage about elected and appointed court officials in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. All content on this Site constitutes protected speech on matters of public concern under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Article I, Sections 3 and 5 of the Michigan Constitution, and the Michigan Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (Public Act 52 of 2025, enrolled as HB 4045).
3. Public Officials and Public Concern
All individuals featured on this Site are elected or appointed public officials holding positions of public trust in the judicial branch of government. Information about their qualifications, conduct, appointment history, campaign financing, and public performance is a matter of legitimate public concern. Poll results represent the aggregate opinions of voluntary participants and are clearly labeled as such. Under New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964) and its progeny, public officials bear a heightened burden in any defamation claim, requiring proof of actual malice (knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for truth).
4. Anti-SLAPP Protection
This Site exercises rights protected under the Michigan Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (Public Act 52 of 2025). Any lawsuit filed against the operators of this Site based on content published herein may be subject to an expedited motion to dismiss under the Act. If such a motion is granted, the Act provides for mandatory recovery of court costs, reasonable attorney fees, and reasonable litigation expenses by the prevailing defendant (Section 10). The Act further provides that discovery is automatically stayed upon the filing of such a motion (Section 4) and that the court must broadly construe the Act to protect the exercise of free speech rights (Section 11).
5. Accuracy and Corrections
We make reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of factual information published on this Site. All factual content is sourced from public records, official court websites, government filings, campaign finance disclosures, and credible news organizations. If you believe any factual information on this Site is inaccurate, please contact us at info@9thdistrict.com with specific details and supporting documentation. We will review and correct verified errors promptly.
6. Polling Methodology
Polls on this Site are open, voluntary, and anonymous. Any visitor may cast an approve or disapprove vote for any listed official. Poll results reflect the opinions of participants and are not scientifically weighted, demographically sampled, or statistically representative of any defined population. Poll results should not be interpreted as an endorsement or condemnation by the Site operators.
7. No Government Affiliation
This Site is independently operated and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any court, government entity, political party, or official in Kalamazoo County, the State of Michigan, or any other jurisdiction. The use of official names, titles, and public record information is for identification and public accountability purposes only.
8. Third-Party Content and News
The Site may summarize, reference, or link to news articles from third-party sources including WWMT, Fox 17, WKZO, WOOD TV, and others. Summaries are original commentary and analysis on matters of public concern, protected under fair use (17 U.S.C. 107). Images from news sources are linked directly from the original publishers and are not hosted on our servers. All original sources are attributed and linked.
9. User Conduct
Users agree not to manipulate poll results through automated means (bots, scripts, or other non-human methods). We reserve the right to reset or adjust vote counts if manipulation is detected. Users agree not to use the Site for any unlawful purpose.
10. Limitation of Liability
The Site is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We are not liable for any damages arising from the use of or inability to use this Site, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.
11. Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Michigan. Any disputes arising from the use of this Site shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Michigan, Kalamazoo County.
12. Contact
For questions about these terms, contact us at info@9thdistrict.com. For legal inquiries, contact legal@9thdistrict.com.