Turnout Low in Special Primary Election to Fill McCotter's Seat

A $600,000 special primary election today to fill the Congressional seat vacated by former Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Livonia) hasn't generated much enthusiasm among voters, according to midday figures released by the Plymouth Township and Canton Township clerks' offices.

According to the Plymouth Township Clerk's office, just 359 voters had cast their votes as of 4:30 p.m. today from more than 22,000 registered voters, accounting for just 1.64 percent of the township electorate. 

As of 2 p.m., Canton Township had reported 362 total voters today — from more than 62,000 registered voters — for roughly 0.6 percent of the electorate. 

Kerry Bentivolio, Nancy Cassis, Steve King,  and Carolyn Kavanagh are vying for the Republican nomination to face Democrat  on Nov. 6 to fill out the final weeks of McCotter's term. Bentivolio in the Aug. 7 primary and will face Democrat in the Nov. 6 election for a full term.

The race very well could be decided primarily by absentee ballots.

The Canton Township Clerk's office reported 5,036 absentee ballots issued for the special election. While figures for returns weren't available today, about 32 percent of issued ballots were reported returned on Aug. 27.

The special election will cost taxpayers a total of about $650,000 — including tens of thousands of dollars for Plymouth Township and Canton Township — for a seat that will only be held for just a couple of months. McCotter  in July amid an .