Michigan General Election: Long Lines, Record Turnouts

MICHIGAN — The polls have closed in Michigan and precincts have seen record turnouts across metro Detroit.

There were reports of snafus along the way, including power outages, malfunctioning machines, 100-person standstills and ballot confusion all across metro Detroit Tuesday.

The Detroit Free Press reported problems as simple as the surge protector supplying the power to a ballot machine being off, unbeknownst to poll workers.

Still, reports say this election is expected to break records in voter turnout as Michigan elects its next governor, votes on three proposals and a weighs in on slew of local elections.

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A look at how Election Day unfolded

Many voters hit the polls first thing this morning, but if you were at this Detroit precinct, there were no voting machines ready.

At Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Detroit, voters arrived shortly after polls opened ready to vote, but they were shocked to find out that the precinct wasn't prepared – they had no voting machines, WXYZ reported.

According to the report, there was some sort of miscommunication about where those voting machines were left. It turned out they were locked in a closet on the other side of the school, a closet that election workers did not have access to.

In the meantime, voters were turned away, the report said.

Most other metro Detroit voters are telling Patch it's been smooth sailing so far this morning, with only minor traffic jams and hiccups reported.

RELATED: Where To Get Freebies In Michigan With Your 'I Voted' Sticker

Candis Drouillard, who arrived at 6:40 a.m. at her polling location in Royal Oak, said there was a minor hang up with the tally machine which required a short wait.

"...but volunteer staff was helpful and someone arrived onsite very quickly to resolve the issue.," she said. "Loved seeing all the Royal Oakers out to vote!"

Karen Pascuzzi Eisenberg said it took her 5 minutes from start to finish.

"I was voter number 171," she said. "I do wish they had more than 1 person checking people in."

Jason Davidson was the 237 voter before 9 a.m. in his precinct in Clinton Township. It took him about 15 minutes to cast his ballot, he said.

Many people are seeing lone lines at the polls -- an issue most are happy about, including Ferndale's Marilyn Pilchowski.

"At 6 a.m. I was No. 10 in line. By 7 a.m. there were at least 150 (people) behind me," she told Patch. "I was never happier to stand in any line!"

What's firing up Michigan voters this election?

It's a drizzly Election Day around metro Detroit, but voters are expected to turn out in record numbers at many precincts. Absentee voting was up 43% this year compared to 2014, when Michiganders last elected their governor.

Michiganders have all kinds of reasons motivating them to get to the polls.

For some it's the specific issues on the ballot, for others, it's a symbolic way to turn the nation around, they said.

"Driving hate back into the shadows, and stripping the party that embraces the hateful 'ists' from any and all positions of power," said Michelle Moon. "Obviously it will take more than one mid-term election, but every mountain climbed starts with a single step."

Others are challenging the existing powers, like Karyn Fazakas Burbank of Ferndale: "Too make sure no one from Snyder’s camp gets anywhere near our government again!" she said.

Some are part of a national movement or "blue wave."

Mark Robichau says he is "doing my part to restore sanity and stop the trump administration's relentless destruction."

Becky Arnold, a local in Plymouth, said it's the millages in her town that she feels strongly about.

For others, they are motivated by a particular candidate on this election's ballot.

"John James is driving me to vote! Time to lower taxes, take care of our vets and protect our border!" said Galen Mason.

For Kristen Drauss Farmer, health care, women’s reproductive rights, the roads, and public education are at the top of her list.

"My right to vote," said Kathy McLaughlin Nino. "That's what's driving me."

Whatever is encouraging you to vote, Patch encourages you to use your voice today. Be sure to share your experience with editor Jessica Strachan at jessica.strachan@patch.com (I voted selfies welcome, too!).

Voting: What You Need To Know

Polls are open in Michigan until 8 p.m. You do not need an ID to vote. Here's how to get free or very cheap rides to the polls through Uber of Lyft.

The weather today includes a chance of showers. Here is the forecast:

A chance of showers before 1pm. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 52 by 5pm. Windy, with a south wind 11 to 16 mph becoming southwest 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Quick links:

• Who is on the ballot: Full list of candidates, including judges and state boards
• What exactly will your ballot look like: Check out your sample ballot
• Which districts are you in: Find your district

Key names and races:

Key Races you'll see on the ballot include:

Governor's race:

• Gretchen Whitmer (Democrat) Visit her website here.
• Bill Schuette (Republican) Visit his website here.
• Keith Butkovich (Natural Law)
• Bill Gelineau (Libertarian)
• Jennifer Kurland (Green)
• Todd Schleiger (Constitution)

U.S. Senate race:

• Sen. Debbie Stabenow (Democrat, incumbent) Visit her website here.
• John James (Republican) Visit his website here.
• George Huffman (Constitution)
• Marcia Squier (Green)
• John Wilhelm (Natural Law)

Michigan Attorney General:

• Dana Nessel (Democrat)
• Tom Leonard (Republican)
• Lisa Gioia (Libertarian)
• Gerald Van Sickle (U.S. Taxpayers)
• Chris Graveline (Independent)

Michigan Secretary of State:

• Jocelyn Benson (Democrat)
• Mary Lang (Republican)
• Gregory Stempfle (Libertarian)
• Robert Gale (U.S. Taxpayers)

Michigan Supreme Court:

• Samuel Bagenstos
• Megan Cavanagh
• Elizabeth Clement (Incumbent)
• Doug Dern
• Kerry Morgan
• Kurtis Wilder (Incumbent)

The rest of the races across Michigan:

For a full list of who is running in races across the state here, click here.

There are 3 Proposals for Michigan:

No. 1 -- Proposal to legalize recreational marijuana

Voters will be asked if they want to authorize and legalize possession, use and cultivation of marijuana products by individuals who are at least 21 years of age and older, and commercial sales of marijuana through state-licensed retailers.

The proposal would help fund schools, roads and communities and is slated to be approved by voters.

Here's a more in-depth look.

No. 2 -- Anti-gerrymandering proposal

Voters will be asked if they want to to establish a commission of citizens with exclusive authority to adopt district boundaries for the Michigan Senate, Michigan House of Representatives and U.S. Congress, every 10 years.

View the official ballot language for this proposal -- Proposal 18-2 -- right here.

Here's a more in-depth look at proposal 2.

No. 3 -- Automatic voter registration proposal

Voters will be asked if they want to authorize automatic and Election Day voter registration, no-reason absentee voting, and straight ticket voting; and add current legal requirements for military and overseas voting and postelection audits to the Michigan Constitution.

View the official ballot language for this proposal -- Proposal 18-3 -- right here.

Here's your guide to Proposal 3.

You can watch the debates below if you missed them:

• Republican candidates for Michigan governor debate in Detroit -- watch here
• Democratic candidates for Michigan governor debate in Detroit -- watch here
• Whitmer, Schuette debate in West Michigan -- watch here
• Debating Proposal 2 and the 'Kavanaugh effect' in midterm elections -- watch here
• Michigan Senate candidates Stabenow, James debate -- watch here
• Gubernatorial candidates Bill Schuette and Gretchen Whitmer debate in Detroit -- watch here

Image via Shutterstock