Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land Wednesday (July 28th) estimated that 1.7 million voters will turn out at the polls for Tuesday’s (August 3rd) primary.
“This number was reached using past primary turnouts, absent voter activity and information provided by local officials,” Land said. “Hotly contested primary races should draw people to the polls on Election Day, narrowing the field for the November general election. I encourage everyone to cast a ballot and make their voices heard.”
Currently there are 7,244,356 residents who are registered and eligible to vote. This compares to the 2008 primary election, in which there were 7,243,261 registered voters. In that election, 1.36 million voters cast ballots, reflecting 19 percent of Michigan’s 7.2 million registered voters. The largest turnout in a gubernatorial year primary came in 1982, when 24.4 percent of the voting age population cast ballots.
Land reminds voters that this is a primary election, therefore ballots must be cast under one political party. Casting votes in a partisan primary for both Republican and Democratic candidates invalidates the partisan section of the primary ballot. Nonpartisan offices and proposals will appear after the partisan section of the ballot.
Residents can view a copy of their sample ballot, find their polling place and locate their local clerk at www.Michigan.gov/vote. They can also learn about obtaining an absentee ballot, track the status of an absentee ballot they have requested, and find out more about voting equipment.
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will be busiest before and after work. Residents are reminded that avoiding peak times may help them vote more quickly.
The Secretary of State’s Bureau of Elections will post unofficial election returns, as they are available, on its Web site. Go to www.Michigan.gov/sos and click on “Elections in Michigan.”
Source: News release from Michigan Secretary of State
