UPDATE: With just hours left until polls open, voters across Metro Detroit are gearing up for a pivotal primary election today, August 8, 2023. Key races include mayoral contests in Detroit and Hamtramck, alongside crucial millage proposals that will impact local communities.
Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. today. Voters in seven cities will select their mayors and fill various city council and commission seats. Despite expectations of a low turnout between 13% and 18%, election officials remain optimistic about increased participation.
In Detroit, anticipation is high as nine candidates vie to succeed long-time mayor Mike Duggan. Early voters have been actively submitting absentee ballots, driven by a desire to influence the future direction of the city. Local resident Dawn McDuffie emphasized the significance of each vote, stating, “It is true what they say. Every single vote matters. Get out there and make your wishes known.”
Election officials are also urging broader engagement from all demographics. Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey highlighted the crucial role of seniors and women in driving elections, expressing a wish for a more inclusive turnout: “We would like to see something different. We would like everyone to be engaged in the process.”
Beyond Detroit, voters in six additional cities, including Southfield, will help narrow down key races. In total, 14 communities will decide on various ballot proposals and millages. Notable among these is a proposal in Ann Arbor that would permit the city to sell a parking lot to a library for just one dollar, as well as a police millage renewal in Clinton Township.
As election day unfolds, the message resonates across the metro area: every vote counts. A Metro Detroit resident summed it up saying, “It matters for sure. Definitely matters. Everybody’s vote matters.”
Results are expected to be posted by Tuesday evening, before midnight, making it crucial for voters to make their voices heard today. With the stakes high and community futures at risk, the urgency to participate has never been clearer.
Stay tuned for updates as results come in and the impact of today’s decisions unfolds across the region.
