Inflation, economy, crime, abortion drive Michigan voters to polls

A steady stream of voters headed to the polls in Michigan for Tuesday's midterm election, driven by a range of issues, including abortion rights and inflation.

In Roseville, Fatou Jawara, 46, was among the first Metro Detroiters to vote after the polls opened at 7 a.m. The polls close at 8 p.m.

"I became a U.S. citizen three months ago and I was just exercising my right to vote," the immigrant from Senegal and two-year Roseville resident said after voting Tuesday at her city's Third Election Precinct, housed inside the Roseville Community Schools Administration Building near 10 Mile and Kelley roads. "I feel real good. I feel like I am a real citizen now."

From Warren to Westland, voters said several issues were at the top of their minds as they went to the polls, including inflation, the economy, crime and abortion. Several cited Proposal 3, the statewide proposal that would enshrine abortion rights in Michigan's constitution, as one of the most important issues on the ballot.

Desiray Edwards, 31, of Eastpointe said Proposal 3 is one of the most important issues on the ballot this election.

"I hope it passes," she said. "I want women to be able to decide. It's something that affects everyone and I don't think the government should be deciding for a woman."

As of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, more than 2 million absentee ballots had been requested and 1.8 million absentee ballots returned to clerks in Michigan, said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office.

More than 12,000 individuals had taken advantage of same-day registration as of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. That number is down significantly from the 2020 president election, which saw about 30,000 same-day registrations.

Individuals in line to vote or in line to register when polls close can remain in line and still vote.

Clerks also were reporting anecdotally "more people showing up in person than they’ve seen recently," said Jake Rollow, a spokesman for the office.

At Westland's Edison Elementary, more than 100 people had voted before 9 a.m.

Jeff Rudolph, 75, a Chrysler retiree from Inkster, cited crime and the cost of living among his top concerns.

"We need to get back to basics," said Rudolph. "It's getting out of hand, as far as the cost of living. I retired three years ago and I thought I was doing alright but not with everything going up."

In-person turnout

In some cases, in-person turnout Tuesday morning exceeded what was seen in the August primary or in the November 2020 presidential election, when in-person voting was lower in part because of the pandemic.

Still, in-person operations largely were running smoothly across the state, said Rollow with the Secretary of State's office.

In Pleasant Ridge, 35 people were line at 10 a.m. at the community center, where 10 voting booths were available. Voters in line said they normally don’t have to wait at that time to vote in the southern Oakland County city of nearly 2,600 residents, which is a traditional Democratic community. A city police officer was briefly at the community center, where there were no election problems.

To cast a ballot, voters must provide proof of identification — either a driver’s license or state ID card. Those without photo identification can sign an affidavit saying they have state ID and can vote. Unregistered voters can register to vote on Election Day at their clerk’s office.

Already requested absentee ballots should be returned to a valid clerk’s drop box or a clerk’s office by 8 p.m. An absentee ballot will not be counted unless the voter’s signature is on the return envelope and matches the signature on file.

David and Kathy Rowe voted at Roseville's third voting precinct shortly after it opened Tuesday.

The couple said they always vote and David Rowe, 65, said as a 21-year U.S. Air Force veteran, added: "I defended this right, so I do it all of the time."

However, he said he thinks Proposal 3 is an important issue on this election's ballot.

"We're leaving this to our kids and they want rights for women," he said. "Our kids are taking over this world and they want rights for women, so we're trying to help them by voting the way."

Statewide races

Statewide races include the race for governor and lieutenant, secretary of state, and attorney general. Voters across the state will also choose the people who will represent their district in the U.S. House of Representatives (you can read articles about those candidates on the politics page of The Detroit News' website).

Voters are being asked to weigh in on three proposals. Prop. 1 focuses on financial disclosures and term limits for legislators, Prop. 2 seeks to change some key election provisions, including requiring early in-person voting, and Prop. 3 asks voters about reproductive rights, including access to abortion and contraception. The specific text of each of those can be found at www.michigan.gov/sos/elections by clicking "upcoming elections," followed by "Voter information" and "State candidates and proposals."

Becca Ward, 25, chairwoman of Roseville's Third Voting Precinct, said turnout seemed steady Tuesday morning. She said 41 ballots had been cast in the first half-hour after the polling place opened.

"Every election is different, obviously," she said.

State legislature seats, including state senator and state representative, are also on the ballot, as well as local races at the county and city level in some places. To look at a sample for your specific ballot, visit mvic.sos.state.mi.us/PublicBallot/Index and enter your specific information.

Despite heightened concerns about possible voter suppression or intimidation, there were no reports of conflict at local polls early Tuesday. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy on Monday pledged to prosecute anyone who intimidated voters at the polls. And ACCESS, the Arab American community center in Dearborn, planned to send out poll monitors to three cities in Wayne County, including Dearborn, to prevent voter suppression.

To look up your polling place, you can visit the Michigan Voter Information Center, provided by the Secretary of State's office, and search using your name, birthday, and zip code or with your driver's license number.

To check your polling place, visit mvic.sos.state.mi.us/Voter/Index. That is also where you can check your registration status, look at a sample of what your ballot will look like, and track your absentee ballot.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

eleblanc@detroitnews.com