DETROIT – Detroit election officials reported a smooth voting process Tuesday during the gubernatorial primary, with all polling locations opening on time and no major issues preventing voters from casting ballots.
Daniel Baxter, chief of staff for the Detroit Department of Elections, said all polls opened at 7 a.m. and voters were able to participate without disruptions.
“There were no outstanding issues that precluded voters from engaging in the process,” Baxter said during an evening update.
Ahead of Election Day, about 4,500 Detroit voters participated in early voting. Election workers also spent the previous six days processing absentee ballots, with more than 55,000 ballots tallied and results being uploaded.
Baxter said election workers began reporting absentee ballot results at 8 p.m. after memory cards from counting boards were delivered to the Detroit Department of Elections for processing.
Results from precincts across the city and early voting centers were also being uploaded.
Detroit officials projected turnout between 20% and 23%, representing slightly more than 100,000 votes cast.
Baxter said the projected turnout was consistent with historical patterns for a non-incumbent gubernatorial primary.
He noted turnout was 15% during the 2022 gubernatorial primary, while previous non-incumbent gubernatorial primaries saw higher participation.
Officials said increased interest in the gubernatorial race, U.S. Senate primary and congressional contests contributed to higher voter engagement.
Federal monitors from the U.S. Department of Justice were also present at several Detroit polling locations Tuesday. Baxter said monitors visited about five or six precincts and observed voting procedures, including provisional voting and voter assistance terminals.
No issues were reported involving voter assistance terminals, provisional ballots or ballot shortages, Baxter said.
“We’re just excited for the fact that every Detroiter who wanted to engage in the process on today had an opportunity to vote in open, free, fair and transparent elections,” Baxter said.
Election officials said approximately 7,000 additional absentee ballots were expected to arrive Tuesday night.
Baxter explained that those ballots must go through a verification process before being counted, including confirming voter information and signatures before ballots are tabulated.
Detroit has approximately 527,000 registered voters.
Officials will continue processing ballots and reporting results as precinct totals are finalized.
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