washtenaw county elections

As life continues to move towards pre-pandemic activity levels, we’re seeing more and more opportunities for in-person engagement. 

WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with the Washtenaw County director of elections, Ed Golembiewski, about some new information about what is happening now there.

Voter turnout was just over 18% in several local elections that took place in Washtenaw County on Tuesday. WEMU's Lisa Barry has the full story:

Michigan's overall 2020 election results are still coming in, but the race for the 12th Congressional District has been decided.  Incumbent Debbie Dingell decisively won re-election in her district, and she joins WEMU's Lisa Barry for a conversation about plans for her next term and her predictions for further election results, including the yet-to-be determined presidential race. 

The Washtenaw County Elections Department has completed its task in the 2020 general election.  Every single vote has been counted, and many local races were decided.

Washtenaw County director of elections Ed Golembiewski took time after his busy night to speak with WEMU's Lisa Barry about the overall voter turnout, local election results, and keeping voters safe at the polls.

While over 161,000 people voted absentee in the November 3rd general election in Washtenaw County, others decided to vote in person.  WEMU’s Jorge Avellan spoke with several of them.

The 2020 General Election is not only historic because voters are choosing a president, but because we’re doing it in a pandemic.  And in Michigan, there are some new changes in effect that impacting the way people vote.

Lisa Barry spoke with Washtenaw County’s Director of Elections Ed Golembiewski about them and to find out how things are going at the polls.

Even though as many as three-fourths of Washtenaw County voters will be voting by absent voter ballots, according to local election officials, there will be some who vote in person on Tuesday.

WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with county director of elections Ed Golembiewski and Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton about local law enforcement precautions being put in place to make sure voters are safe.

Washtenaw County’s absentee ballots are going through their final review this week.

The Washtenaw County Elections Department says they’re in need of poll workers for the November general election.  

Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton will not face a Republican challenger in November after winning his Democratic primary race on Tuesday.  Sheriff Clayton joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the win and the forward-looking plans to address law enforcement and community relations. 

In a three-way, Democratic primary race, the incumbent Washtenaw County Clerk/Register of Deeds defeated his opponents by a wide margin.  Lawrence Kestenbaum now faces a Republican challenger in the general election.  Kestenbaum joined WEMU's David Fair to make his case for reelection. 

Washtenaw County's primary election had a three-way, Democratic race for county prosecutor.  City of Detroit legal counsel and University of Michigan law school lecturer Eli Savit came out on top and will not face Republican opposition in the November general election.  Savit discussed the win and his plans for the moving the prosecutor's office forward with WEMU's David Fair. 

Washtenaw County officials are not expecting long wait times at polling places during the August 4th primary election.

The Washtenaw County Elections Department says all of its 150 voting precincts will offer in-person voting for the August 4th primary election.  

The Washtenaw County Elections Department is offering a new service on their website for voters interested in voting absentee.  

The Washtenaw County Elections Department says they could see a shortage of poll workers for the August state primary election due to the COVID-19 crisis. 

Concerns over the coronavirus are prompting some local governments to postpone ballot proposals they had scheduled for the upcoming May 5th election.

As part of our local primary presidential election coverage, 89.1 WEMU's Jorge Avellan visited several polling locations in Washtenaw County on Tuesday and spoke with young voters about their election experience. 

Voters in portions of Washtenaw County went to the polls Tuesday to decide a few bond issues, millage questions, and city council races.  Voter turnout was higher than expected.  Washtenaw County elections director Ed Golembiewski checked in with WEMU's David Fair to discuss the results and what was learned heading into a presidential year election cycle in 2020. 

It's never been easier to vote in Michigan and in Washtenaw County, thanks to several recent changes in voting laws and policies.  WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with Washtenaw County Director of Elections Ed Golembiewski and Ann Arbor League of Women Voters election inspector Cheryl Depner about what those changes mean to local voters.

In this edition of "In The Public Interest," our bi-weekly conversation with the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area, WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with City of Ann Arbor clerk Jackie Beaudry and Geoffrey Smereck of the League about recent changes to the voting system and how that is impacting elections and the voting experience.

As part of an effort to ensure election security, State of Michigan officials were in Washtenaw County on Thursday for an audit.  The Secretary of State's Office wants voters to feel confident that their votes are accurately counted. 

The Washtenaw Intermediate School District's $53.2 million-dollar bond passed in Tuesday's election with  nearly 56% voter approval.  The result will be a new High Point School in Ann Arbor that better serves the nearly 400 of the county's special needs students.  District superintendent Scott Menzel joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss to discuss what happens next. 

High Point School in Ann Arbor serves the special needs of students with disabilities from all school districts in Washtenaw County.  It is operated by the Washtenaw Intermediate School District and serves students aged from three to 26.  Next Tuesday, voters will decide a bond issue that allow for investment of over $53 million in making the facility more accessible and functional.  WEMU’s David Fair sat down with WISD Superintendent Scott Menzel to learn more about the school, its students, and the details of what could be accomplished with passage of the ballot issue.

There's only two weeks left until the general election.  In the meantime, Ann Arbor will be hosting forums regarding the Library Lot and other issues, and the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners will discuss financial security.  These are just a few of these issues discussed in this week's "Civic Matters" with WEMU's David Fair and the CivCity Initiative's Mary Morgan.

For some people, just getting out to vote takes a lot of effort.  They may never think about or realize exactly what goes in to putting a local election together.  89.1 WEMU’s Lisa Barry takes you behind the voting curtain to learn about just how much time and preparation goes in to putting together an election in Washtenaw County, so residents can exercise their right to vote.

The mid-term elections are about a month away, now. Typically, turnout for mid-terms is much lighter than in presidential election years. This year, the political climate is tense and polarized. That appears to be manifesting itself among younger voters with a new sense of interest. In looking at Washtenaw County, if newly registered young voters turn out, it could help determine outcomes in November. 

The November general election is getting closer, and more events are coming up to highlight the upcoming ballot.  Judicial races, affordable housing, and voter registration info are just some of topics discussed in this week's "Civic Matters" with WEMU's David Fair and the CivCity Initiative's Mary Morgan.

Polling locations opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning across Washtenaw County and will close at 8 p.m.   89.1 WEMU's Jorge Avellan spoke with voters as they existed the polls.

Two Barton Hills Village proposals will be among the 13 ballot issues Washtenaw County voters will see on the August 7th primary eleciton.