In pub debates with friends and radio interviews leading up to Tuesday’s election, I pitched the idea that this was the most fascinating — and most important — primary election in Michigan since I started running around with a notebook as a cub reporter at the Traverse City Record-Eagle 20 years ago.
There was something at the polls for everybody yesterday. No matter your political persuasion you had a horse in this race at the top of the ticket. We had liberals (Bernero), we had conservatives (Cox, Bouchard, Hoesktra), we had insiders (Dillon, Hoekstra, Cox), we had outsiders (Snyder, George), we had passionate attack dogs, milliionaires, men of the people, industrialists, environmentalists, unions, management, East, West. Truly something for everybody.
Still, it wasn’t compelling enough for the majority of adults in Michigan.
A Center for Michigan analysis of county-by-county vote totals from yesterday estimates that turnout statewide was just a notch under 21 percent of all state residents older than 17. That’s better than four years ago (16.9 %), but not as high at 2002 (23.3%) or 1982 (24.4%).
So, a big round of applause to the five counties with the most engaged voters yesteday: Leelanau, Antrim, Schoolcraft, Ottawa, and Keweenaw (all above 28.5 percent voter turnout).
And boos to those who stayed home in the bottom five: Menominee, Cass, St. Joe, Gogebic, and Marquette (all below 15.2 %). Hey, we get it… all five of those counties are about as far as you can get from the state capitol. We understand how detached many of you feel. But, 15 percent? Geez.
So, if your only excuses were ignorance or disinterest yesterday, please do the rest of us one kind favor… Keep a lid on the hyperpartisan and often-uninformed banter that permeates talk radio… If you don’t vote, you can’t be heard anyway.
3 Comments
One of the main reasons that more people do not vote in the primary is that you have to vote a straight ticket. This deters many, including myself.
Take a look at NW Lower Michigan as a whole…
…but its sad if we congratulate ourselves on only 28.5%.
Not saying this was the case in this primary, but in many the best choice on the ballot is “None of the Above”. If “NOTA” got 50% of the vote, then that party would either have to hold another primary at their expense, or forego having any of their candidates on the ballot for the general election. In reality, the rules in some states seem to favor a “NOTA” election. Take the top 2 from whatever party and let them run against each other in the general election. Whatever it is, we need to do a lot better in getting out the vote. They should make voting a requirement to get any sort of government benefits like medicare, food stamps, etc.