Election 2019: Dearborn's Projected Voter Turnout

DEARBORN, MI — It's been a smooth Election Day around Dearborn so far, according to City Clerk George Darany.

He said that as of 2:30 p.m., about halfway through polling hours, the city had seen about 5,000 voters. They are projecting a turnout of about 8,500 people total on Tuesday.

Combined with the 3,150 who voted absentee, that puts Dearborn at about 11,650 ballots cast or roughly 18.5% turnout in the city.

"Not bad for a one-issue ballot," Darany said.

Darany told Patch earlier this week that it was a unique ballot in that it only had one issue on it.

The district has dubbed the bond BRICS for the areas it will target: Buildings, Renovations, Infrastructure, Capacity and Safety. The main focus for the funding is infrastructure including boilers and related equipment, restrooms, roofs, exterior doors and windows, LED lighting, paving and sidewalks, and technology infrastructure. Some buses and technology needs will also be purchased, district officials said.

Opponents say the plan is too rushed and point to what they say are overlapping priorities from previous proposals, as well as redoing work that was done within the last ten years in the schools.

Some cities around Metro Detroit — such as Royal Oak, which have heated races for city offices , are seeing record turnout at elections due to Michigan's new no-reason absentee voting. Dearborn's absentee voting list hasn't grown much, but the city expects it to ahead of next year's elections.

Some voters around Dearborn expressed frustration with a seemingly low turnout.

Resident Krista Komisar cast her ballot at Bryant Middle School around 11 a.m. and said she saw only two other voters while she was there.

Around the same time, Pamela Mogielski Brown was voter No. 37 at McDonald.

Just after noon, Jennifer Lukas Smith was voter No. 141 at DuVall.

Some voters got out early to cast their vote, such as Naela Youssef, who was the third voter Tuesday at William Ford.

Polls are open until 8 p.m. Check our election guide for your sample ballots, precinct details and voter requirements.

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