Primary election confusion

An article by The SCN Editorial Board    1 Comment

Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Bill Bullard, Jr. says the Feb. 28 Michigan presidential primary election is causing confusion among some voters, which in turn is posing some additional burdens on municipal clerks responsible for managing the election. According to Bullard, the presidential primary election term itself implies to many voters that they can look at candidates on both the Republican and Democratic sides of the ballot and cast a vote for a Republican and a Democrat, or one or the other. However, that’s not the case, and that’s what’s causing either confusion or anger among some voters.

State lawmakers last year designated the state’s 2012 presidential primary election as a closed process, meaning that voters have to declare whether they want the Democratic or Republican ballot when they go to the polls in a few weeks, or when applying for an absentee ballot.

Although the process this year will be largely the same as it was four years ago, local elections officials are already fielding complaints from voters in west Oakland County. The issue, the clerks are saying, is that people aren’t aware that it’s a closed process again this year — much like it was in 2008.

Area clerks have stated that some voters seeking absentee ballots have already sent in their applications, but failed to indicate whether they want to vote a Republican or Democratic ballot. When this occurs, the clerk must contact the applicant either by phone or mail and instruct them to resubmit an absentee ballot application that indicates which ballot they want to vote — Republican, or Democratic, but not both. That’s slowing down the absentee voting process, which adds a measure of hassle for both clerks and voters.

According to Bullard, there’s also concern that those who go to the polls on Feb. 28 to vote in person may not understand that they have to choose to vote one party’s ballot or the other, and the voter confusion — and occasionally anger — could lead to spoiled ballots and more delays for election workers.

So, we’re trying to do our part to keep the voters informed by reminding them about the closed nature of the Feb. 28 presidential primary election in Michigan. In addition, we’re encouraging voters to reserve any complaints and criticisms, if they have them, for state lawmakers, who wanted the closed primary process: The local clerks and election workers didn’t have anything to do with it, so please, cut them some slack.