Voters Expected To Line Up At Polls

It’s expected to be one of the busiest midterm elections in the nation’s history.  Normally, there is a significant drop in voter turnout in between presidential elections, but early returns predict a much higher rate of participation today.

Local voters will have plenty to decide today as well.

Michigan’s senior Senator Democrat Debbie Stabenow is being challenged by Republican John James while Northern Michigan’s representative in Congress will either be incumbent Jack Bergman or his Democrat opponent Matt Morgan.

Calumet Democrat Scott Dianda is trying to flip a seat in the state senate vacated by Republican Tom Casperson, but he will have to defeat his former colleague in the State House Republican Ed McBroom to do so.

Dianda’s former seat as the 110th District Representative is now up for grabs between Republican Greg Markkanen and Democrat Ken Summers.

Statewide elections include a tightening race between Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette and Democrat Gretchen Whitmer for governor.

Even the races for State Attorney General between Republican Tom Leonard and Democrat Dana Nessel and the Secretary of State contest between Republican Mary Treder Lang and Democrat Jocelyn Benson have been hotly contested.

Three statewide proposals are on the ballet to determine the fate of the legalization of recreational marijuana, putting an end to so-called Gerrymandering, and updating key voting laws.

Many eyes will be on local races as the Houghton County Board of Commissioners will take on a new look with four out of the five seats facing possible change.

District 1’s Tom Tikkanen is the only unchallenged incumbent on the board. Board Chair Al Koskela is going up against Democrat Melissa Davis in District 2.  Anton Pintar is stepping down in District 3 and will be replaced by outgoing Hancock City Manager Glenn Anderson.  Gretchen Janssen was appointed to fill the seat in District 4 vacated by Scott Ala but will have to defeat Houghton City Councilman John Sullivan to remain there, and Roy Britz and Sharon Stoll are competing for the District 5 seat after Britz upended Tim Palosaari in the Republican primary.

No local ballot proposal has received more attention than the Houghton County Jail addition, which will be decided today as well.

While no changes are expected on the Houghton City Council, on the Hancock side, the council will be quite different.  Both Mayor Lisa McKenzie and Mayor Pro-Tem Ted Belej are not seeking reelection, along with councilman Joe Bauman.  Former councilman John Slivon is returning to represent Ward III uncontested and Will Lytle will fill one of the at large seats, leaving one to be filled by appointment.  The council will select a new mayor and mayor pro-tem next week.

The Village of Calumet is holding two recall elections–for Village President Dave Geisler and Trustee Virginia Dwyer–along with a proposal to disincorporate the village entirely, which would require a two-thirds vote from both the village and Calumet Township.

The Keweenaw Report Election Night Show begins with national coverage from ABC at 7:00 tonight on 97-7 The Wolf, with local election results and analysis beginning at 8:00.

You can view the ballot in your precinct here.