Trending
By Ilsa Minor
iminor@dailypress.net
ESCANABA -- Voters will head to the polls today to cast their vote in the presidential primaries, potentially impacting whose name appears on the November ballot.
Voters participating in the primary today must declare whether they are voting on the Democratic or Republican ballot. There are no party membership requirements to select either ballot and choosing a ballot from either party does not bind a voter to vote for a candidate or party in the future.
While both parties are holding primaries today, the most closely-followed race is undoubtedly the race for the Republican nomination. Currently, only Former President Donald Trump and Former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley still have active campaigns in the race.
Despite the suspension of their campaigns, voters will still see the names of Ryan L. Binkley, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Asa Hutchinson, and Vivek Ramaswamy on the ballot. The ballot also includes a spot to vote "uncommitted," that is to say a voter does not prefer any of the candidates, or to write in the name of a candidate.
As of Monday, Trump had a significant lead in the race to November. After winning other primaries and the Iowa Caucus, Trump has secured 110 pledged delegates of the 1,215 needed to win the nomination. Haley has 20, including only three of the 50 delegates from her home state of South Carolina. The remainder of South Carolina's delegates are pledged to Trump.
Twelve delegates were pledged to other Republican candidates prior to their exiting the race. DeSantis secured nine, while Ramaswamy secured three.
On the Democratic ballot, voters will be able to vote for sitting President Joe Biden or challengers Dean Philips or Marianne Williamson. Williamson suspended her campaign in early February. Philips is still in the race.
All 91 Democratic delegates that have been pledged to candidates following state primaries and the Iowa Caucus have been pledged to Biden.
Voters using the Democratic ballot will also have the option ot vote "uncommitted" or write in the name of a candidate.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Unlike during the two weeks of early voting, which ended yesterday and sent all Delta County voters to the Wells Township Hall, residents must vote at the designated location for their precinct.
The precinct voting locations are as follows:
BALDWIN
Precinct 1 -- Baldwin Township Hall
BARK RIVER
Precinct 1 -- Bark River Senior Center
BAY DE NOC
Precinct 1 -- Bay de Noc Township Hall
BRAMPTON
Precinct 1 -- Brampton Township Hall – Kipling
CORNELL
Precinct 1 -- Cornell Township Hall
ENSIGN
Precinct 1 -- Ensign Township Hall
ESCANABA TWP
Precinct 1 -- Escanaba Twp Besse Fire Station #2
Precinct 2 -- Escanaba Township Hall
FAIRBANKS
Precinct 1 -- Fairbanks Township Hall
FORD RIVER
Precinct 1 -- Ford River Township Hall
GARDEN
Precinct 1 -- Garden Community Center
MAPLE RIDGE
Precinct 1 -- Maple Ridge Community Center
MASONVILLE
Precinct 1 -- Masonville Township Hall - Omni Center
NAHMA
Precinct 1 -- Nahma Township Hall
WELLS
Precinct 1 and 2 -- Wells Township Hall
ESCANABA
Precinct 1 -- Escanaba City Hall
Precinct 2 -- Jefferson School (Headstart building, use south entrance)
Precinct 3 -- Civic Center (use north entrance)
Precinct 4 -- Christ the King Church (1230 N. 18th Street)
GLADSTONE
Precinct 1 -- Gladstone City Hall
Precinct 2 -- Gladstone Sports Park