Macomb Polls See Low Voter Turnout at Noontime, 5-10 Spoiled Ballots Per Precinct

There may not have been tumbleweeds blowing past the voting booths but many of Macomb Township's polling locations did have the appearance of ghost towns around noon Tuesday.

"The polls are dead," was one election worker's observation. "We're getting maybe 10 people an hour," said another.

But low voter turnout was to be expected, as primaries historically draw few voters to the polls. The 2008 August primary saw only 15.4 percent of Macomb Township residents voting, including those who cast absentee ballots.

With some 6,500 absentee ballots issued, and more than 5,000 returned as of Monday, Macomb Township Clerk Michael Koehs said it is possible that absentee votes will account for as much as half of the total votes cast in the August primary.

While the primary may seem to have little significance when compared to the presidential election in November, an often overlooked fact is that with no Democratic contenders for Macomb Township's board seats, Tuesday's results will decide the election in the races for supervisor, treasurer, clerk and trustee.

Although the need to "make some changes" to the township board drew Macomb Township resident Lisa Craffey to the polls, fellow resident Sherry Dempsey said she came out specifically to cast her vote in the sheriff's race.

Some residents expressed their concern about the DIA millage while still others wanted to have their say in the District 13 county commissioners race. 

For Luiza Kontic, it wasn't one issue or race that brought her to the polls, but rather the opportunity alone to exercise her voting rights as an American citizen.

"I think it is important that as many people as possible vote," said Kontic, who is originally from Canada. "It's the reason I vote all the time. People don't realize how many around the world don't have this right. I chose to live in this country and I consider voting a privilege and a right."

Polls report multiple spoiled ballots due to split tickets

An ongoing issue at polls throughout the township remains split tickets. While election workers in the Heydenreich and 21 Mile Road area were reminding voters prior to casting their ballots that they could only vote one party, those same precincts were reporting between five and 10 spoiled ballots per 70 voters around noon Tuesday.

Unlike the ballot used in the November general election, the August primary ballot does not allow residents to vote a split ticket.

Within the partisan section of the ballot, which includes congressional, legislative, county and township offices, voters may only vote for candidates in one party. Votes across party lines will void this section of the ballot.

However, this rule does not apply to the nonpartisan section of the ballot or the county millage proposals. Should voters mistakenly split their partisan portion, this will not affect their nonpartisan votes. These votes will still be valid.

At the polls, split ballots will be voided and voters issued a new ballot. Those who cast absentee ballots – and believe they mistakenly split their ticket – can go to their precinct today and re-cast their vote by either presenting the spoiled ticket or signing an affidavit acknowledging their first ballot as being invalid.

Of the 48 voting machines in Macomb Township, only two had been replaced due to mechanical difficulties by 2 p.m. Tuesday.