State sends additional elections workers; heavy turnout reported

The state of Michigan sent backup election workers to help at the polls in Pontiac Tuesday, amid heavy voter turnout and newly hired help that didn’t show up.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office sent emergency election workers to several communities early on Election Day, including Pontiac and Grand Rapids, spokesman Jake Rollow said in a press briefing Tuesday morning.

Pontiac Mayor Deirdre Waterman confirmed the city received the extra help. She said the City Clerk’s Office trained a number of recently hired workers over the past several weeks.

Waterman said turnout in Pontiac was high. For example, she said, the Bowens Senior Citizens Center had lines around the building when polls opened at 7 a.m.

By late morning, the lines at most precincts had subsided but turnout remained brisk, she said.

Pontiac also had substantial requests for absentee ballots, with about 80 percent returned as of Tuesday morning, Waterman said.

About 25 state workers were sent to Inkster, Westland, Detroit and Dearborn to help with worker shortages, Benson’s office said.