In an election season that has been anything but normal, Michigan voters are heading to the polls Tuesday to cast more ballots in the statewide primary.
The presidential primary took place in March. This primary presents an opportunity for candidates in the U.S. Senate race, the 56th district state representative race, and many other elected positions in cities and townships.
Winners move on to the Nov. 3 general election.
As in previous elections, polling sites at each precinct will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
This year, however, all registered voters in Michigan are eligible to vote by mail, and absentee ballots must be returned before the polls close on Tuesday. Those who have asked for an absentee ballot and did not receive one — or mailed in their ballot too late — can still vote in-person Tuesday, provided they sign an affidavit.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer imposed a statewide mask mandate in mid-July, but voting is one of the few exceptions to the rule.
Township clerks in Monroe County said they will not obstruct anyone from voting if they are not masked, but are strongly recommending voters cover their faces to reduce the risk of infectious spread.
Here are the candidates and issues that Michigan voters in Monroe County should expect to see on their ballots:
■ Bob Carr and John James are vying for the Republican Party nomination for U.S. Senate. The winner will face incumbent Gary Peters, a Democrat who is seeking a second term. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014.
■ Democrats Keith Kitchens and Ernie Whiteside are seeking their party’s nomination to run for 56th District state representative. Republicans Austin Blaine and TC Clements are seeking their party’s nomination. The district covers much of Monroe County. Incumbent Jason Sheppard, a Republican, is forced to step down because of term limits.
■ Democrats Sandra Blank and Jerry Oley are seeking the Democratic nomination for Monroe County Clerk. The winner squares off against Republican Annamarie Osment. In Monroe County, the county clerk also serves as the county’s Register of Deeds.
Monroe County voters who do not want to affiliate with a party can still weigh in on the countywide ballot initiatives.
Those include deciding whether to approve a proposal to levy up to 0.75 of a mill in property taxes — or 75 cents for every $1,000 of taxable value — to fund services for senior citizens 60 and older for the next four years.
Residents also will decide whether to extend a millage for a homeless shelter in Monroe Charter Township, and vote on one-mill property tax renewal for the Monroe County Library System, which supplies 75 percent of the library’s budget.
Bedford Township Republicans will decide whom to nominate for township treasurer and trustee.
Krista Jandasek and Al Prieur are on the party ballot for treasurer. Eight Republican candidates are vying for the trustee nomination: Matthew Angerer, Todd Bruning, Joe Gore, James Krieger, Natt Maraugha, Craig Montri, Cassie Mullins, and Rick Steiner. The winner takes on Democrat trustee nominee Mike Smith.
Bedford voters from both parties also will decide the fate of a new plan to fund fire protection services. Approval of the ballot proposal would increase revenue for operations and capital expenditures by about $2 million, but would require higher property taxes. Funds would come from an additional township levy of $1.75 per $1,000 of taxable property between 2021 and 2026.
Bedford Township Deputy Clerk Nancy Gin confirmed that election workers will be required to wear masks and will be supplied with hand sanitizer, wipes, and face protection. To minimize the likelihood of viral spread, the polling sites will be using touch-less scanners. “Voters have a right to vote whether they have a mask or not, but we’ll ask them nicely to wear a mask,” Ms.Gin added.
She said she’s noticed a larger proportion of voters opting to vote by mail. Absentee ballots can be dropped off through the township office’s drive-thru window.
In Erie Township, right across the state border from Toledo, the sole contested local race is between Gary Wilmoth and Cory Yenor, two Republicans seeking the nomination for township supervisor. The winner will be up against Democrat Michael Grodi, who is currently the deputy supervisor.
The township’s clerk, Kim Cousino, said that voting precincts will be equipped with masks, gloves and disinfectant, and booths will be regularly sanitized and spaced at least six feet apart.
And while residents of the city of Luna Pier also won’t be deciding between candidates on the city level, they will be charged with deciding the fate of a charter amendment for the city council.
Should the proposal pass, the charter will be amended to authorize the city council to levy an additional annual millage on taxable property for four years to fund repairs to the city’s dike system.
Monroe County voters from Ida Township who are casting their ballots in the Republican primary will have a choice to select no more than two of four candidates running for a trustee position: Elmer Bowman, Chris Curry, Tim Mata, Jim Thomson. It’s the only contested local election in the township
Absentee voters this year have quadrupled from previous years, the township’s clerk, Tera Shaffer, said. “We have already received double the votes in absentee ballots than what we received in total from the polls four years ago,” she added.
There are three contested races in LaSalle Township.
Aaron Goldsmith and Diana Harvey, both Republicans, are running for supervisor; Julia Durocher (R) and Sarah Smith (R) are vying for the party nomination to become treasurer, and five Republican candidates — David Anteau, Robert Copp, Jeff Davis, Thomas Rutledge, and Bob Willis — are on the ballot to become a township trustee.
In Monroe Charter Township, five Republican candidates are in the running for a trustee position, and voters cannot choose more than four. Those five are Terrance Guido Gerin, Guy Howe, Richard Jansenns, John Manor, and Kevin Raymo.
Summerfield Township voters in the Republican primary can expect the party nomination for supervisor to go to either John Chandler or Dominic Lucarelli. They will also be faced with selecting trusteeship nominees from James Seegert II, Mark Strahan, and Blaine Wagner, all Republicans.
There are no contested township elections in Whiteford.
Election results are expected to be tallied Tuesday night.
First Published August 4, 2020, 12:00 p.m.
