August Primary

Michiganders will head to the voting booths today.  This is when Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians will choose who they want to see represent their party in various races come November.  There could be a higher turnout this year than in the 2014 primary.

Tuesday is primary election day!  Polls will be open from 7am-8pm.  Because of the election, Ann Arbor City Council has moved its meeting and crowded agenda to Thursday.  And, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners will continue looking at an equity ordinance when it meets this week.  Civic engagement oppotunities abound and WEMU's David Fair and the CivCity Initaitive's Mary Morgan have it covered for you in this week's edition of "Civic Matters." 

The August 7th primary elections are less than a week away, and some Washtenaw County voters will be asked to decide a familiar issue.  Back in 2014, voters in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Ypsilanti Township approved a 0.7 mill tax levy to support and expand services offered by the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority.  Next Tuesday, they’ll be asked to consider a similar millage request.  89.1 WEMU’s Jorge Avellan has the story.

A progressive watchdog group says the state Attorney General has misused his office for political gain – and they have the emails to prove it.

Lincoln Consolidated Schools will ask voters next week to approve a bonding proposal to make improvements at the district.
 

Dexter Township voters will decide two tax measures next week. 89.1 WEMU's Taylor Pinson has more on the millage questions that will appear on the August 7th ballot.

Primary election day is a week away: Tuesday, August 7th.  The Creative Washtenaw Votes 2018 August Primary Survey includes responses and answers to hard questions about issues that are important to the creative sector, from candidates running for mayor to governors and the county commissioner.  Thirty-three candidates running in races at the local, state and national level responded.  What have we learned?  Find out in this week's 'creative:impact' with WEMU's David Fair and Deb Polich, the president and CEO of The Arts Alliance. 

A proposal that would generate millions of dollars for a sinking fund for Whitmore Lake Public Schools will appear on the August 7th primary ballot. 
 

The Republican candidates for governor have been battling it out for months.  There’s more money being spent on the Republican primary than recent years– and it’s being used to help the candidates go after each other. 

The Michigan primary is fast approaching.  Democrats and Republicans will head to the polls on August 7th to decide who they want to represent their party in the November governor’s race.  Three democratic candidates hope they’ll be chosen, and money – and the television ads it buys – has played an interesting role in the Democratic race so far.

On this week's "In The Public Interest," 89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area's Nancy Schewe about VOTE411.org, the online voter guide, and the paper copy that is available in newspapers and at libraries.  They discuss VOTE411 history and how to use it effectively for August 7th primary, which is only a few weeks away.  

For the first time in Michigan history, Libertarian candidates for governor will be on the August primary ballot.  That’s because the party got enough Michigan votes in the 2016 election to put the party on the primary ballot.

If you want to vote in the August primary, today is your last day to register.

This week on our bi-weekly conversation with the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area, 89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry is joined by league member Paige Nong to talk about raising awareness and participation in the upcoming primary election on August 7th.

The deadline to get on the August primary ballot has passed, which the election season is really going to pick up steam.  In this week's "Civic Matters," WEMU's Patrick Campion talks to CivCity Initiative executive director Mary Morgan about the latest events in local government, including more talks on the Ann Arbor YMCA Lot and a screening of a new, politically-charged documentary.

The state says now is not the time to rule on whether a candidate for governor is eligible to run.  That could mean the question will wait until after Democratic voters make their choice in the primary.

Democrats want Dana Nessel as their candidate for state Attorney General in 2018.  The party held its endorsement convention Sunday.  Thousands gathered to vote on who should be on the ballot.

Former state Senate Democratic leader Gretchen Whitmer filed petition signatures yesterday to get her name on the primary ballot as a candidate for governor.  

In this week's "Civic Matters," WEMU's Patrick Campion talks to Mary Morgan, executive director of the CivCity Initiative, about the latest civic issues, including Ann Arbor Police looking for public feedback and how to get involved in your local neighborhood watch.

There were four Ann Arbor City Council incumbents on Tuesday's primary election ballot.  Three of them have advanced to the November ballot. 

After narrowly defeating a similar proposal one year ago, Ypsilanti voters have approved a millage increase to pay off debt from the failed Water Street redevelopment project. 

If you plan to vote in the August 8th primary election, you have to be registered by July 10th.  There will a ballot issue in Ypsilanti, primary elections in four of the five Ann Arbor city council wards, and a few other proposals to be decided on the 2nd Tuesday in August. 

The Freedom of Information Act could be changing in Michigan. 

Three Washtenaw County townships will be voting on three separate millage issues next week.  

A mailing mix-up has resulted in hundreds of Ypsilanti Township voters being told to go to the wrong polling place for next month's election.

Today is the deadline for potential candidates to submit their names to be the replacement nominee for Democratic state lawmaker Julie Plawecki, who died last month. 

Ypsilanti officials are pushing to convince voters to pass a 2.3 mil on the August ballot to pay down debt on Water Street.

Legal troubles are piling for a Detroit-area state lawmaker.  Representative Brian Banks faces new felony charges that he submitted fake paycheck records to get a loan.