By The Citizen staff
Local clerks reported higher than expected voter turnout for the Jan. 15 presidential primary election.
In Brandon Township, 22.35 percent of registered voters (2,479) cast ballots at the polls. The number was higher than the 20 percent Clerk Jeannie McCreery expected.
‘Considering the meagerness of the Democratic ballot and the weather, I thought the number would go down,? she said. ‘We probably would have had higher turnout if we hadn’t gotten the snow. We got about the state average, so I was happy with the turnout.?
Atlas Township also had about 22 percent of registered voters, or 1,342, turnout. Clerk Tere Onica had only expected about 18 percent, the usual for a primary in the township.
‘It’s amazing really, considering all of the things that happened prior to this election,? she said. ‘Voters had to show an ID and were required to choose either a Republican or Democratic ballot, and add to that a couple of candidates voluntarily removed their names from the ballot. However, I think all of these things added to the awareness and knowledge of our voters, which meant they were interested and better informed with the process than ever before. I hope it’s a trend which will continue to increase voter participation.?
Michigan angered the Republican and Democratic national committees with their decision to move up the state’s primary election from February, violating party rules. The move resulted in Democratic candidates removing their names from Michigan primary ballots, as well as both national parties saying they would penalize Michigan at the national convention this summer, with the Republican National Committee saying they will reduce the number of Michigan delegates by half for the Republican convention. The Democratic National Committee has said they will not seat any Michigan delegates at their convention.
McCreery said she did not have any problems from voters even with the problems surrounding this primary.
‘It was a breeze,? she said. ‘It’s exciting to be a part of this whole process, and I told the state elections bureau that we have taken everything thrown at us and we would make it work, and we did.?