Election Day 2022: Follow along with live coverage of the primary in the Blue Water Area
Follow along with live coverage of the Aug. 2 Michigan primary, with regular updates from your local news team at The Times Herald. Bookmark this page, or click refresh in your browser window for the most up-to-date local results in real time as votes are tallied across the Blue Water Area.
That's all for tonight, check back tomorrow for more
Updated 11:30 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
For the dedicated data hounds, you can follow along with live updates on the county website here. Your Times Herald news team will be back in the morning with more coverage of primary election results in the Blue Water Area.
Thank you for following along with us today, and a special thanks to all who voted — and to all the candidates who put forth their names to serve our communities. Good night.
— PTH staff updates
Port Huron voters pass all county tax requests, including for ambulance services
Updated 11:15 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
Voters in Port Huron overwhelmingly supported the five countywide millages on the primary ballot, according to the city's unofficial election results. And that includes the new tax to support ambulance services — by a 3,744 to 998 vote.
Ken Cummings, CEO for Tri-Hosptial EMS, the area's largest ambulance agency, called the initial results humbling, but said he understood they had to wait for remaining results from the outer county, where residents may be more likely to have voted against the half-mill request.
Cummings has emphasized the make-or-break nature of the tax for the agency's future if not successful. They're looking at a $600,000 operating deficit for the current fiscal year, which ends in December, and after the polls closed, he said, "We can't sustain very long under those circumstances."
If the ambulance service millage, which would collect $3.3 million in its first of four years, remains successful countywide, Cummings said getting wages up to attract more staff would be among the highest priorities in putting the funds to use.
"A large part of the staffing crisis is the fact that we aren’t able to pay competitive wages and compete with the metropolitan market, which is where we’re trying to draw people from," he said. "... Once we do that, then the next step for us really is to look at expanding services or adding more ambulances on the road."
Other countywide millage results in just Port Huron were as follows:
- Parks and recreation: 3,837 yes to 892 no
- Senior citizens: 3,992 yes to 673 no
- Libraries: 3,452 yes to 1,296 no
- SC4 operating: 3,127 yes to 1,627 no
— Jackie Smith, Times Herald reporter
Unofficial results begin to roll in for St. Clair County
Updated 11:00 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
As St. Clair County approached the three-hour mark, results for the Aug. 2 primary had begun to roll in with just 8.57% of precincts reporting.
Those included some unofficial results from the city of Yale as well as Brockway, Burtchville, East China, Emmett, Grant, St. Clair and Wales townships.
You can find more results as they're uploaded to the county clerk's website here.
— Jackie Smith, Times Herald reporter
Come chat about local results on Twitter!
Updated 10:30 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
Two hours after local polls closed, St. Clair County's unofficial results page remained empty of results.
But by 10:15 p.m., County Clerk Jay DeBoyer said they were beginning to get precincts reporting, expecting results to be uploaded soon.
Looking to chat about the local results? Come chime in with me on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.
— Jackie Smith, Times Herald reporter
Tudor Dixon wins Republican primary for gubernatorial race
Updated 10:00 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
Tudor Dixon, a Muskegon County businesswoman, won the Republican primary for governor Tuesday and will face Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in November.
The Associated Press called the election for Dixon at about 9:45 p.m. as she came out on top of a five-candidate race. Read the full story here.
Follow along here as results continue to come in. Hit refresh in your browser window, or bookmark and reload this link to ensure you have the most recently updated version.
— Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press reporter
Where to watch for St. Clair County results — when they come in
Updated 9:45 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
More than an hour and a half since the polls closed, St. Clair County's unofficial results page was still results-free with 0% of local precincts reporting.
Earlier today, County Clerk Jay DeBoyer said SD cards with results for local precincts are delivered to his office in Port Huron before they're uploaded through election software to the county's unofficial results page.
When asked for an update around 9:40 p.m., DeBoyer said in a message, "They'll go up as we get reporting. ... No one has delivered yet."
"They have to drive them in to us," he said. He previously said they hoped to get the bulk of results up by 10 p.m. but later added the slow nature of the process was not unusual. Watch with us as the results come in later tonight here.
— Jackie Smith, Times Herald reporter
Polls are now closed
Updated 8:00 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
It's 8 p.m. ET and polls are now closed across much of the state — it is also the deadline for returning an absentee ballot by dropbox or to your local clerk. Remember, if you were in line before or at 8 p.m. stay in line!
Live results in state legislative races will flow in at thetimesherald.com/elections/results. And follow live updates here as unofficial results are recorded (Note: Results in Michigan become official when they are certified by boards of canvassers, a process that is allowed to take up to two weeks).
— PTH staff reports
Verdict mixed on county-wide tax proposals in city of St. Clair
Updated 7:45 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
While support for St. Clair County's several tax proposals on the primary ballot appeared to be common among evening voters in Port Huron, that wasn't the case elsewhere in the city of St. Clair — including renewal requests for parks and recreation, senior services and St. Clair County Community College.
"Altogether, I'm not in support of a lot of people that are coming up with that stuff right now," said St. Clair voter Lucas Cantrell
“No, I’m tired of giving everybody money when our money keeps getting taken away. We have to budget, they can budget," said fellow resident Michelle Denomme. When asked if she was concerned about how that may impact services, particularly for the ambulance and library millage requests, she added, “We’ve survived this far.”
Others like Aaron Lockwood, however, said he felt those were important needs to meet for county residents.
“As long as they’re being used for a good purpose, I don’t see why not," he said. "Oh, we need them," he said of local EMS. On libraries, he said, “I love reading books. It’s good to have resources available.”
— Jackie Smith, Times Herald reporter
Last minute reminders before the polls close at 8 p.m.
Updated 7:30 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum and East Lansing City Clerk Jennifer Shuster had a few last minute reminders for voters, including that people who are in line at 8 p.m. can stay and vote.
“If you are in line, you can still exercise your right to cast your vote, you still have plenty of time to do so," Shuster said. "Also, make sure you’re going to the right polling location."
Byrum said if someone voted absentee, they need to check both sides to make sure it's filled out properly, they need to make sure to sign the back of the envelope so the signature can be verified, “and get that to their clerk or to their clerk’s dropbox by 8 p.m. tonight.”
Follow live updates here as results are recorded beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Hit refresh in your browser window, or bookmark and reload this link to ensure you have the most recently updated version.
— PTH news staff
Updated Election Day numbers from Michigan Secretary of State
Updated 7 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
Here are updated Election Day numbers from the Michigan Secretary of State office as of 6:30 p.m. ET.
- Absentee ballots received: 1,106,179
- Absentee ballots requested: 1,316,257
- Same-day registrations: 2,504
“Michigan voters like to vote from home,” Michigan Secretary of State Chief External Affairs Officer Jake Rollow said.
He said they don't have in-person numbers, but the over 1.1 million absentee ballots returned could be anywhere from half to two-thirds of the total votes cast in the election. Since voting laws have changed voters have really embraced the option to vote absentee.
“People still like to have the various options to cast their ballots,” he said.
Follow live updates here as results are recorded beginning at 8 p.m. Hit refresh in your browser window, or bookmark and reload this link to ensure you have the most recently updated version.
— PTH staff reports
Arizona transplants in Port Huron don't mind a tax hike
Updated 6:45 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
Moving from Arizona to Michigan in 2018, residents Jenny and Bill Davis said they're watching two state primary results today. But in Port Huron, where there were no Democratic primary challengers in state or local races, they said they felt strongly about supporting several tax proposals.
“Anything having to do with the senior citizens and the library will always get my attention. I will always favor that," Jenny said outside the polling location at Griswold Street Baptist Church. In addition to a 1.2-mill tax proposal for the St. Clair County Library System, a half-mill increase from its expired millage, there were several renewals on the ballot, including for services for local seniors. She also supported the new half-mil ambulance service tax, calling it a "necessary service.
“It’s a necessary service. Where a lot of people say, ‘More taxes is bad.’ I don’t see it that way," Jenny said. "I see that when there’s an increase in taxes, there’s an increase in services.”
Bill cut in, “Or trying to better the services. That’s what our taxes are supposed to be for.”
— Jackie Smith, Times Herald reporter
Michigan GOP cancels Election Day event in Lansing due to threat
Updated 6:30 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
The Michigan Republican Party canceled a primary election celebration scheduled for Tuesday evening in Lansing after receiving multiple death threats and other promises of violence, a party spokesman said.
Before cancelling, Michigan Republicans planned to celebrate their candidates Tuesday night at Kelly's Downtown in Lansing, said Gustavo Portela, communications director for the Michigan Republican Party. He expected roughly 100 people at the event, including state Republican legislators and party officials from the area. Read the full story here.
— Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press reporter
READ MORE:Threats force Michigan GOP to cancel Election Day event in Lansing
Updated Election Day numbers from Michigan Secretary of State
Updated 5 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
Here are updated Election Day numbers from the Michigan Secretary of State office as of 4:30 p.m. ET.
- Absentee ballots received: 1,088,711
- Absentee ballots requested: 1,315,687
- Same-day registrations: 1,745
Follow live updates here as results are recorded beginning at 8 p.m. Hit refresh in your browser window, or bookmark and reload this link to ensure you have the most recently updated version.
— PTH staff reports
Voter turnout slow so far, says Port Huron clerk
Updated 4:45 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
By mid-afternoon, Port Huron City Clerk Cyndee Jonseck said things had been slow thus far today in her office, adding, "We haven't had a huge voter turnout."
She said for the election, the city had issued 2,752 absentee ballots to city voters despite the gubernatorial and state primary races.
Jonseck initially said she expected a higher turnout, but said at least the absentee totals were "pretty much right on" track with past August elections. That's compared to the 2,526 ballots the city saw during the special election in August 2021 when voters considered the second outside marijuana ballot proposal.
Once polls closed, the city clerk said they were hoping it meant being able to get results over to the county clerk's office quickly.
"We're going to be trying to get over there by 9:30, so the city of Port Huron can be done early for you," she said.
— Jackie Smith, Times Herald reporter
Report voter intimidation or harassment to election protection hotline
Updated 4:30 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
Voter intimidation is illegal and wrong, even for election challengers and poll watchers. If you witness or experience any harassment or coercion in your polling place, contact the nonpartisan election protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.
— PTH staff reports
County clerk: Expect most of the unofficial results to be listed by 10 p.m.
Updated 3:55 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
St. Clair County Clerk Jay DeBoyer said he was expecting the bulk of results from local precincts to be up on the St. Clair County clerk's election results website within two hours after the polls close tonight.
"That's what my guesstimation is so far. It's going relatively smoothly," he said this afternoon. "Knock on wood when I say that. ... But I would think we have the majority of our stuff at 10 o'clockish."
DeBoyer said his office will await individual SD cards from each precinct to be driven up to Port Huron before uploading them through election software. Previously, he said the process was slightly different with a manual entry reporting to the results site.
"The problem I've had with that in the past is you have human error, and you transpose numbers," he said. "So, we went to the reporting from the SD card."
DeBoyer emphasized the county's election page is for unofficial results, adding the board of canvassers meets at 9 a.m. Thursday to begin the process to formally certify the results.
— Jackie Smith, Times Herald reporter
Sit tight for results for St. Clair County's election results tonight
Updated 3:15 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
Hi folks, I'm Jackie Smith, the Times Herald's local government reporter, and I'll be watching for local election results as the polls close at 8 p.m. tonight in St. Clair County. See anything interesting? You can reach me at jssmith@gannett.com or (810) 989-6270 or on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.
Follow for live updates here throughout the rest of today. You can also find out more after the polls close through the St. Clair County clerk's election results website.
— Jackie Smith, Times Herald reporter
Voters weigh in on proposed in fire tax in Kimball Twp.
Updated: 2:45 p.m. Aug. 2, 2022
In Kimball Township, several residents said they support the fire tax proposals on this election’s ballot, even if they had concerns about higher taxes.
Resident Shelly Piechotte said she strongly supports a new millage that would help recruit and train new firefighters for the Kimball Township Fire Department, help the department purchase new equipment and support the operational costs of the department.
“It’s an essential service and the more we can do to help them the more they can do to help us,” she said.
— Laura Fitzgerald, Times Herald reporter
Dave Rushing, Bill Gilmer face off for GOP nod in St. Clair County Board’s 6th District
Updated: 1:45 p.m. Aug. 2, 2022
When it comes to future priorities for St. Clair County commissioners, neither District 6 incumbent Dave Rushing nor his primary opponent Bill Gilmer rule many things out.
However, the two facing off on Aug. 2 for the Republican nod diverge in the details — be it in their preferred approach to the county’s ongoing 26 Mile Road corridor plans, degrees of caution about finances, or questioning the other’s motives or strategy as a candidate.
Read more here.
Kimball Twp. officials ask voters to consider dedicated fire tax
Updated: 12:25 p.m. Aug. 2, 2022
If you are a Kimball Township resident and suffer a house fire, firefighters and rigs will respond from two stations and mutual aid from neighboring departments may also be called.
However, unlike residents in many neighboring townships, those living in Kimball will be billed for that fire service.
That is something township officials want to change through a dedicated tax for fire services.
Read more here.
Here are St. Clair County's biggest pre-primary campaign finance takeaways
Updated: 11:55 a.m. Aug. 2, 2022
It takes a lot to turn the wheels of a political campaign.
But depending on who you ask, how a race is financed, by whom, and with how much may not always guarantee success for candidates — or tax proposals — at both the local and state level.
Read more here.
Voter support on countywide taxes varies
Updated 11:15 a.m. Aug. 2, 2022
Port Huron residents Herb and Fran McIntosh said they supported the St. Clair County parks and recreation, library and senior citizens taxes because they said they provide valuable services. Fran McIntosh said she especially enjoys the Council on Aging’s line dancing and exercise classes.
“The line dancing is fabulous,” she said.
A retired librarian of 20 years, Fran McIntosh said she thinks the library system provides valuable services, especially for kids.
Rebecca Summerer, another Port Huron resident, also voiced her support for all the county-wide millages on Tuesday’s ballot. She said she especially supports the parks and recreation millage.
“You really saw what they did with the money with that,” Summerer said.
Mary Neris, who voted at McMorran Place, was less supportive of the county millage proposals. She said she did not support taxes for the libraries, the senior services or SC4. She said she didn’t see the dollars being used effectively.
Neris did vote in favor of the county ambulance services and the parks taxes. She said she uses EMS services and appreciates everything they do.
“I’m really impressed with (EMS) service,” she said.
In Marysville, resident Julie Wilson said she supported the parks and recreation millage. She said she enjoys biking, hiking and cross-country skiing with her husband in the county’s parks.
“I think we need to be outdoors,” Wilson said.
— Laura Fitzgerald, Times Herald reporter
Follow along here for live updates on the Aug. 2 primary
Updated 12 p.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
Today is Election Day! And your local news team at The Times Herald will provide live coverage throughout the day, including:
- News and photo galleries from the polls
- Live updates as results start coming in at 8 p.m. ET
Bookmark this page, and click refresh throughout the day tomorrow to stay up-to-date.
— Port Huron Times Herald staff reports
Polls open across much of Michigan; follow our live updates
Updated 7 a.m. ET Aug. 2, 2022
Across the Blue Water Area, voters will select which candidates will appear on the November ballot for various races in the state legislature, county board and more. In addition, voters will decide on various millage proposals today. Among them:
Port Huron Times Herald staff will provide live updates to this blog throughout the day to keep you informed on competitive local races. Bookmark this page and click refresh to stay up-to-date.
— Port Huron Times Herald staff reports
