July 31, 2002

Secretary of State Candice S. Miller today estimated that voter turnout at Tuesday's state primary will be close to 1.5 million voters this year.

"Based on past primary turnouts, absent voter activity and information provided by local election officials, we expect about 1.5 million voters will cast ballots in Tuesday's primary," said Secretary Miller, Michigan's chief election officer.  "Making these projections is not an exact science.  It involves looking at past primary elections with an eye on the current election environment."

Currently, there are 6,807,837 Michigan residents eligible to vote in the primary.  A turnout of 1.5 million voters would represent 22 percent of Michigan's registered voters.

"With the national focus on elections this year, Michigan residents can be confident their vote will count when they go to the polls on Aug. 6," Secretary Miller said.

Secretary Miller reminds voters participating in the primary election that they must cast their votes under one political party.  Casting votes in a partisan primary for both Republican and Democratic candidates invalidates the partisan section of the primary ballot.  Non-partisan offices and proposals appear after the partisan section of the ballot.

To assist people in learning more about the election process, the Secretary of State's Office provides several programs and services, including:

• Citizens' Guide to Voting Systems - The system uses text, photographs and video to show people how to use the voting equipment at their individual polling sites.  The Citizens' Guide was recently praised by the NAACP, which gave Michigan the highest grade in the nation for election reform initiatives.
• Elections in Michigan web site - a wealth of election information for the public, candidates and election administrators, including up-to-the-minute election results and campaign finance reports, are available on the department's web site.
• Qualified Voter File - an electronic, statewide database of registered voters, the Qualified Voter File is a national model on election's administration and management.
• 18-year-old voter post card - teens turning 18 receive a post card in the mail reminding them of the importance of registering to vote and voting.

This year, in addition to the candidates for governor, Congress, state House and Senate, and various judicial seats, voters at the polls will also find two statewide ballot proposals on their ballot, which would:

• Amend the provision of the State Constitution governing the operation of the State Officers Compensation Commission (SOCC).  Included in the proposal are provisions that would add secretary of state and attorney general to the list of staff officials whose pay is determined by the SOCC, and require a majority vote by the Legislature to approve any SOCC pay increases.
• Allow certain permanent and endowment funds to be invested as provided by law and increase allowed spending for state parks, local parks and outdoor recreation.

 The polls are open on Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Registered voters who want an absent voter ballot mailed to them must submit their application in writing to their city or township clerk by 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3.  Registered voters eligible for an absent voter ballot may also vote in person at the city or township clerk's office anytime up to 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5.

Michigan residents can obtain an emergency absent voter ballot through 4 p.m. on election day if they become suddenly ill, or if they must leave their community due to sickness or death in the family.

All absent voter ballots must be received by the clerk's office no later than 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6.  For more information, contact your local clerk's office.

The Secretary of State's Bureau of Elections will be monitoring election returns after the polls close on Tuesday, and will post unofficial results for state and judicial offices as they are available on this web site.