Primary election today

By TOM LAVENTURE

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Bessemer — Today is election day in Michigan as voters face a partisan primary election for many local, state and federal offices, as well as a few local millage requests. The winners of their respective primaries will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters may select either the Democratic or Republican party column on the ballot when choosing candidates in partisan races. There are no third party candidates in this election who are on the primary ballot.

Choosing candidates in both political parties in different contests on the primary ballot will result in a disqualified ballot. An election worker can assist a voter to vote again if a ballot is rejected.

Voters are going to see social distancing and people wearing masks at the polls today, said Gerry Pelissero, clerk of court and register of deeds for Gogebic County. There will be masks available for anyone who needs one along with hand sanitizer stations.

“Voters are encouraged to wear masks today when they vote and, although it is not required, we certainly hope that they would,” Pelissero said. “We’re going to keep everyone as safe as we can on this election day.”

The state of Michigan sent out absentee ballot applications ahead of the primary to help reduce the congestion at the polls on election day, which has led to an increase of people voting from home.

“We currently have out approximately 738 absent voter ballots currently, as of July 30,” said Karen Gullan, clerk for the city of Ironwood. “In 2016, the total voter count was 869, which represented 18% voter turnout.”

Pelissero said this primary will most likely result in the most absentee ballots processed in an election in the county. People are taking advantage of the no-reason absentee ballot system in Michigan; where before, a voter had to have specifically state one of six reasons why they wanted to vote absentee and now anyone can request one.

“We’ve never seen this many absentee requests before,” Pelissero said.

The state has specific processes to avoid voter fraud with mail in ballots. One of them is matching the required voter signature on the ballot application with the absentee ballot sent back to the precinct. The clerk will verify and certify signature matches and the ballot is secured until delivered to the polls on election day.

For anyone who has not mailed their absentee ballot yet, they can still deliver it to the local clerk in-person up until 8 p.m. on election day. If the office is closed, there are also ballot drop boxes.

Along with the partisan primaries in today’s election, there are non-partisan proposal questions on the ballot that do not require a party preference. Those selections will remain valid even if a ballot is disqualified for cross voting in the partisan contests.

The three countywide proposals that will appear on all ballots are all renewal levies. The first is a 0.60 mill ($0.60 per $1,000 of state taxable value) levy for the Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action-Agency senior citizens programs. The second is a 0.33 mill levy for Gogebic County Transit. The third proposal is a 0.4 mill levy for Gogebic County Medical Care Facility building and site improvements.

Ironwood voters will have an additional ballot question to consider, the 1 mill renewal levy for the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center.

Bessemer Township voters will have the additional ballot question to consider the renewal of the Bessemer Township millage proposal for the general township operating purposes. The voters are asked, “Shall the previous voted increase in the 15 mill tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within Bessemer Township be renewed at 8 mills ($8.00 per $1,000) through 2025?”

The federal races include U.S. Senator, where Democrat incumbent Gary Peters, and Republican challenger John James are running unopposed in their parties.

The District 1 U.S. Representative contest includes Republican incumbent Jack Bergman who is running unopposed. The Democratic candidates include Dana Ferguson and Linda O’Dell.

The 110th District Representative contest for the Michigan Legislature includes incumbent Republican Gregory Markkanen running unopposed. The Democrat Party candidates include Lawrence Dale, Janet Metsa and Casey VerBerkmoes.

The county races include three Democratic candidates seeking the office of Gogebic County Sheriff. Incumbent Sheriff Pete Matonich is being challenged by Joseph Cayer and David Kinnunen. There are no Republican candidates.

Other unopposed offices include prosecuting attorney, clerk and register of deeds, treasurer and county drain commissioner.

All seven seats on the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners are up for election. The contested races include the 2nd District with Democrats, where incumbent Tom Laabs is being challenged by Michael Wiemeri. The 4th District seat has two Democrat candidates, incumbent James Lorenson is being challenged by Cory Niemela.

Voters in Gogebic County’s six townships also have township offices on the ballot in a mix of contested and uncontested races.