Oakland County sees 60% voter turnout
County has 1,044,291 registered voters
Over 60% of Oakland County’s registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
According to numbers from the Oakland County Elections Division, 634,441 ballots were cast across the county with a turnout of 60.75%. The county has 1,044,291 registered voters.
A countywide public transit millage highlighted ballots across the county along with statewide races for governor, attorney general, and secretary of state and statewide ballot proposals involving abortion rights, expansion of voting opportunities, and requirements for state lawmakers to disclose personal financial information.
During Michigan’s previous midterm election in 2018, the county’s voter turnout was 64.53%. In November 2020, voter turnout was 74.9% and in November 2016 voter turnout was 71.59%.
Statewide, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson projected Wednesday that Tuesday’s voter turnout will be the highest for a midterm election in state history. She added that Tuesday’s election was “smooth, transparent and absent of any any significant disrup
tions.”
“Thousands of Republican, Democratic and independent election clerks and workers securely counted ballots through the day and night to provide Michigan voters their unofficial election results as quickly as possible,” said Benson. “In the days ahead, clerks will now tirelessly dedicate themselves to canvassing their elections to confirm their accuracy before certification, demonstrating again their commitment to the integrity of Michigan elections and our democracy.”
Around 4.57 million Michiganders cast a ballot Tuesday, which represents a statewide voter turnout of around 55.5%. There are 8.2 million registered voters statewide.
According to state records, statewide voter turnout was 55.4% in 2018. In 2014, turnout was 41.6% and in 2010 turnout was 42.9%.
In Oakland County, the highest turnout numbers were reported in Auburn Hills, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Rochester Hills, and Southfield Township with reported turnout between 75% and 80% in some precincts.
The lowest turnout numbers were reported in Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pontiac, White Lake Township, and Wixom with turnout between 25% and 40% in some precincts.
Independence Township was the last county community to report its full, unofficial results to the county Wednesday afternoon around 12:15 p.m.,
said Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown.
Township Cari Neubeck told The Oakland Press that an increase in absentee ballots led to a delay in her staff counting ballots and reporting its full, unofficial election results to the county.
“This election was a learning curve for our workers,” she said.
Oakland County turnout Straight-party ticket
• Democrat: 213,069 total votes, (113,294 absentee and 99,775 in-person)
• Republican: 143,457, 39.84% of total votes (48,538 absentee and 94,919 in-person) Governor
• Gretchen Whitmer (D):
378,210 total votes (192,670 absentee and 185,540 inperson)
• Tudor Dixon (R): 234,414 total votes (76,530 absentee and 157,884 inperson)
Attorney General
• Dana Nessel (D): 363,215 total votes
• Matthew DePerno (R): 234,054 total votes
Secretary of State
• Jocelyn Benson 384,748 total votes
• Kristina Karamo (R): 217,729 total votes
(D):
Proposal 1 (Term limits and financial disclosures)
• Yes: 420,548 total votes
• No: 170,526 total votes
Proposal 2 (Voting rights)
• Yes: 384,368 total votes
• No: 213,247 total votes
Proposal 3 (Reproductive Rights)
• Yes: 390,698 total votes
• No: 220,312 total votes By Thursday, state law requires the bipartisan board of canvassers in each of Michigan’s 83 counties to begin canvassing the unofficial results from their jurisdictions. County clerks and their staffs assist them in this process, working hand in hand with city and township clerks.
The law requires county canvassers to complete their work and certify the results by Nov. 22, and then the bipartisan Board of State Canvassers must do the same by Nov. 28. If elections require or candidates request recounts, those occur after the canvasses are complete and the election is certified.