DETROIT – Dawn McDuffie, a Detroit resident, walked a mile on Monday to drop off her absentee ballot, and she’s encouraging others to make the effort to vote on Aug. 5.
“If you don’t, you know the result. Don’t complain,” McDuffie said, reminding everyone that voting is the best way to make your wishes known.
In Detroit, voter turnout is expected to be low, between 13% and 18%, but City Clerk Janice Winfrey is hoping for a higher turnout this election.
“Seniors carry elections. We know women carry elections. But we would like to see something different. We would like everyone engaged in the process,” McDuffie said.
That same hope is shared by young Detroiters voting for the first time.
“Come help your community. It matters for sure,” said one first-time voter.
Charenzo Harris, another Detroit resident, said, “We’re the future, honestly. Everybody that is voting that is older and elder, they’re not going to be here for a while. We’re the younger generation. We’re the ones that are going to be here while they’re not. So, I feel like the younger generation should get out here and vote.”
First-time voter Sarah Epps noted that candidates often fail to reach out to younger voters or discuss issues that matter to them.
“You can’t just tell someone to go vote, and you have to give them a reason to vote,” said Harris.
But one candidate delivered his pitch in a way that inspired her to vote.
“We have to put certain people in positions to help us,” Epps said.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Residents can register to vote on Election Day at their local clerk’s office with proof of residency.
Acceptable documents include:
- Michigan driver’s license or state ID
- Current utility bill
- Bank statement
- Paycheck or government check
- Other government documents