Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

Record Voter Turnouts Possible

29. October 2004 • Murph
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In July, Republican Michigan State Rep. John Pappageorge was criticized for saying of the GOP, “If we do not suppress the Detroit vote, we’re going to have a tough time in this election.”

In today’s Free Press, local election officials are predicting voter turnout of 75-80% in thier jurisdictions, beating 1972’s record of 72.7% turnout in Michigan. Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land is predicting a lower figure, of only around 63% turnout, but local officials are saying that levels of absentee voting point to much higher interest.

While high turnout typically benefits the Democratic Party, the high levels of absentee voting carry across the state, in rural areas that typically vote for the Republican Party, and not just in the Detroit area.

Meanwhile, watch for Detroit’s most prominent recent contribution to national politics tomorrow night on Saturday Night Live, where Eminem will be, appropriately enough, the Devil’s Night musical guest.



  1. Dude, it’s “Angel’s Night” now, remember?
       —Brandon    Oct. 30 '04 - 01:18AM    #
  2. FWIW, you can be part of that turnout even if you have a conflict on Tuesday that just arose.

    Clerk’s offices across Washtenaw county are open from 9 am to 2 pm today (Saturday), so if you have recently discovered you need to vote absentee, you can take care of it on the spot—or get a ballot and bring it back Monday.
       —Cranky    Oct. 30 '04 - 12:15PM    #