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ESCANABA — Preparations for next week’s political primary are underway at local precincts. After receiving the go-ahead at the state level in late November, county, city and township officials last week began programming and testing technological equipment for Tuesday’s primary.

“I’ve already tested about 3,000 ballots prior to now,” said Delta County Clerk Nancy Kolich. She and other officials are busy making certain test ballots and their predetermined results coincide accurately with software on memory cards for AccuVote, an optical scan voting system.

AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminals, which allow handicapped individuals to participate in the primary, are also being tested for accuracy.

Kolich is reminding residents this year’s voting process will be different than previous primaries. “There a couple key things that are new,” she said.

First and foremost, in addition to preregistering at in the precinct where they wish to vote, residents must also show a valid government-issued photo I.D. to poll inspectors.

Michigan driver’s licenses and university or college-issued photo cards may be used.

Second, residents must choose between a Republican or Democratic ballot at the primary. “Normally, there’s one ballot and voters either vote for the Democrats on it or the Republicans on it,” said Kolich. This year, however, “there are two separate ballots to choose from.”

And finally, voters have always had their names placed on a list sent to the state Republican and Democratic parties. For the first time since 1992, that list will also include which ballot each name on the list chose at the primary.

Kolich would also like to inform the public that Precinct 1 of Escanaba Township will be divided this year. Residents that live east of County Road 426 to the Escanaba River will report to Precinct 3 at the Escanaba Township Hall to vote. Voters currently in Precinct 1 that live east of the Escanaba River can continue to vote at Cameron Elementary.

In Gladstone, residents that live in the downtown district from Second Street to U.S. 2 and 41, including the south side of Delta Avenue, will vote in Precinct 1 at city hall.

Voters west of U.S. 2 and 41, including the north side of Delta Avenue and all streets north of the street to city limits, will vote in Precinct 2 at the Gladstone Sports Park.

Polls throughout Delta County will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

 

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