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 elections officials and the Washtenaw County Sheriff say there have been no specific or credible threats to local voter safety, but county director of elections Ed Golembiewski says they are still working together with local law enforcement to protect public safety on Election Day.
Golembiewski says they have heard concerns from voters and others about the possibility of intimidation, so, accordingly, they have made preparations to prevent that and to respond to incidents as they might occur. Sheriff Clayton says, "All the law enforcement agencies in Washtenaw County have collaborated around the strategy to support the clerk's office around election integrity and polling location security, and they've also been in conversation and collaboration with the elected and appointed officials throughout the county."
Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton says they have increased the number of sheriff deputies available to respond to county polling locations on Tuesday. There is also a nonpartisan number voters can call if they sense a problem: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu