MLive investigation here, with some notable election rules:

Conservation district elections occur in unconventional locations like vineyards, barns and park gazebos. Votes are sometimes handwritten and manually tallied without privacy booths or computerized ballots. Voter turnout is extremely low, with most elections receiving single-digit ballot totals out of the 17 reviewed by MLive. Some districts hold elections during ticketed banquets, though district representatives said residents may vote without paying. The informal nature of these elections contribute to the lack of public participation and awareness.