KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo County Board of Canvassers meets today to certify Tuesday’s vote count for what turned out to be a special kind of primary.
Kalamazoo County Clerk Meredith Place says it’s been a while since they have seen that kind of voter participation in August. 67,851 residents cast ballots in the primary.
“That represents over 36% turn out, the highest turn out of the past three August primaries. That’s nearly 18,800 more ballots that the august 2024 primary, and almost 14,800 more than August 2022.”
Place says 60% of the votes came in early, and the rest voted on Tuesday.
Kalamazoo’s 36% turnout was the highest in the area, compared to 21% in Kent County. About 26% turned out in Jackson and Hillsdale Counties. Only 18% turned out in Calhoun County and 22% of the registered voters participated statewide.
Place says a glitch with the State’s Qualified Voter File slowed the registration of new voters and some absentee counting late in the day, but it was restored in an hour and didn’t impact voting.
“Our election officials followed Michigan law and successfully administered a secure and accurate election despite historic turn-out and an unforeseen challenge.”
She says they wrapped up the unofficial count at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The Board of Canvassers will take a few days to certify the count.
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