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Posted on Tue, Aug 6, 2013 : 3:43 p.m.

Officials project voter turnout of 8 to 10 percent in Ann Arbor primary election

By Amy Biolchini

Ann Arbor city officials are projecting voter turnout of 8 to 10 percent Tuesday for the primary election.

Voters in the city’s 3rd and 4th wards are casting their ballots Tuesday in Democratic primary races for two seats on Ann Arbor City Council. Council members serve two-year terms.

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Poll worker Donald Jerome smiles as he reaches toward the computer and fellow worker Thomas Jenkins Tuesday at Tappan Middle School in Ann Arbor.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Council Member Stephen Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, is defending his seat after three terms in the position against challenger Julie Grand, the chairwoman of the city’s Parks Advisory Commission.

In the 4th Ward, Council Member Marcia Higgins is facing challenger Jack Eaton for her seat. Higgins has served 14 years on council. Eaton, a longtime 4th Ward resident, is a labor attorney in Southfield.

As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, voter turnout was about 5 percent — including the 1,100 in-person votes that had been cast and 884 absentee ballots that had been returned, said Jackie Beaudry, clerk for the city of Ann Arbor.

In the 3rd Ward, 479 absentee ballots were issued to voters and 405 had been returned as of 2 p.m.

In the 4th Ward, 574 absentee ballots were issued to voters and 479 had been returned as of 2 p.m.

Beaudry said clerk’s office staff will be checking the mail for absentee ballots Tuesday evening as well.

In Ypsilanti Township, where three tax increases and a millage renewal are on the ballot for voter approval, voter turnout was "extremely low" Tuesday, said Karen Lovejoy Roe, township clerk. She could not provide an estimate of turnout, however.

As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, 2,003 absentee ballots had been returned to the township clerk's office out of the 2,244 that were issued for the primary election.

Polls close at 8 p.m. Voters using absentee ballots have until that time to submit them to the clerk.

Check AnnArbor.com Tuesday night for election results as they are released.

Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.

Comments

dotdash

Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 4:03 a.m.

Was that 8-10% of voters in those AA districts that had races? Or 8-10% of all AA voters?

SonnyDog09

Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 12:33 a.m.

It's hard to get excited about a choice between two loyal members of the ruling party in a primary election. If there was much actual difference between the loyal party members, that might encourage people to turn out and vote.

Mick52

Tue, Aug 6, 2013 : 11:11 p.m.

Low voter turnouts are frustrating. I think maybe mandatory voting with a holiday or maybe more than one day, so if day one results are "surprising" people can go on day two if they are not satisfied with the vote results of the first day.

ferdcom

Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 12:28 a.m.

The actual vote for city council is in November. This is just the party primary elections to select the candidates for the Nov. election.

Basic Bob

Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 12:24 a.m.

Maybe scheduling all the elections on one day in November would help.

Nic F.

Tue, Aug 6, 2013 : 11:11 p.m.

Did anyone notice Jack Eaton's name was "John" Eaton on the ballot?

Basic Bob

Wed, Aug 7, 2013 : 12:24 a.m.

Robert's your mother's brother! (Bob's your uncle)

Skyjockey43

Tue, Aug 6, 2013 : 9:58 p.m.

8 to 10 percent turnout is absolutely shameful. For such an educated city, it's appalling how apathetic it's citizens are.

Elijah Shalis

Tue, Aug 6, 2013 : 9:36 p.m.

I don't like how they say Eaton works outside the city but fail to mention that Higgins does as well.

Brad

Tue, Aug 6, 2013 : 8:35 p.m.

Some context might be nice. What was the turnout for last year's primary for example.