Election Day Blog: Clawson Votes on Millage, in Presidential Primary

8 p.m.: The polls have officially closed.

7:30 p.m.: Kenwood reports 553 ballots processed in total, which is about 25 percent of the voters in that precinct. 

Chris Knoper stopped in to cast her vote before the polls closed. She voted "yes" on the city's millage because she values the city's services. 

"I'd like for my home values to go up," Knoper said. Knoper wouldn't disclose which Republican candidate she voted for in the primary but said she supported "the lesser of the evils." However, Knoper said she voted Democratic in the 2008 presidential election and will likely vote the same in November 2012.

Republicans have a "lack of support for education," said Knoper, an elementary teacher in Birmingham.

7 p.m.: Voter traffic has picked up at Hunter Community Center. Poll chairwoman Alyssa Hall said the precinct has processed 475 ballots, bringing them close to the estimated 25 percent voter turnout.

"We're hoping to get there by the end of the day," Hall said.

Leah Colley, 20, voted for the first time in today's election. Colley said she typically doesn't engage in politics but has done some research on the issues and received guidance from her parents. She said she voted for Ron Paul in the presidential primary.

"Paul just seems to know what's going on in this country," Colley said.

Colley said she voted "no" on the millage because she does not support higher taxes.

Eric Wencel, a 10-year Clawson resident, also voted "no" on the millage proposal. 

"I don't think the money will be appropriated correctly," Wencel said, adding that he doesn't want his taxes raised. 

1:45 p.m.: Patch caught up with David Glenn as he was leaving Schalm. Glenn voted "yes" on the millage and voted for President Barack Obama in the primary.

"If I voted for a Republican, I'd be struck by a bolt of lightning," said Glenn, 61. "They don't respect anyone who's not as greedy as them."

Glenn said he likes how President Obama handles international affairs and followed up with his promise to pull troops from Iraq.

Linda Scott, who also voted at Schalm, said she was in favor of the millage because of her desire to keep all city services. In the presidential primary, Scott said she voted for Mitt Romney.

"I like his business attitude," Scott said, adding that she believes Romney won't try to take a lot of money from taxpayers.

1:30 p.m.: Over at , voter traffic had started to slow down. So far, the precinct has processed 157 ballots. 

Poll chairwoman Sharon Jones said she wasn't expecting a big turnout in today's election. City and school elections are usually much slower than presidential elections in November, Jones said. 

1 p.m.: At City Hall, poll workers say they have processed 95 total ballots. Gina Boid, who works for the , had just voted in favor of the millage proposal. Boid said as a city employee, she realizes the value of services such as the and Public Works.

"Things could be cut drastically," Boid said. If the millage doesn't pass, "I think it's just gonna get worse."

9 a.m.: Patch caught up with Mayor Penny Luebs while she was casting her vote at Hunter.

Luebs said she was strongly encouraging voters to get out and vote.

"This is a chance for everyone to be heard," Luebs said. " will personally affect each person here."

Luebs, who considers herself an independent, would not disclose who she was voting for in the presidential primary, but said, "I vote for the person who is best suited for the job."

While the mayor did express concern with the direction the country was going, she said she believes the November election will be a toss-up.

8:45 a.m.: There have been 47 walk-in voters at .

Kenwood precinct chairwoman Heather Blaszyk said there are about 2,100 total voters in the precinct and she expects steady traffic throughout the day.

"Due to the millage, more people might come out for that," Blaszyk said.

8:30 a.m.: The precinct reported 43 walk-in voters and relatively steady traffic.

Adam Walsh casted his vote at Schalm and said he voted in favor of the millage proposal.

"I know a lot of cities are struggling," Walsh said "I think it's important that we keep up the local fire and police (departments)."

Walsh also said he voted for Newt Gingrich in the primary election because he can relate to more of his political beliefs than other candidates'.

8 a.m.: reported 22 walk-in voters by this time and poll traffic was steady.

"It's a smaller election," precinct chairwoman Alyssa Hall said. "We're not expecting it to be really busy."

Hall said, per usual, voter turnout usually picks up around noon and again after many people leave work around 5 p.m.

Louis Mekhaeil was at Hunter this morning casting his vote. Mekhaeil said he was most interested in the presidential primary race and supporting Rick Santorum. Mekhaeil, 65, said he does not want to see Mitt Romney win the primary.

"I don't like Romney or anything he says," Mekhaeil said, adding that he doesn't believe Romney will do anything to support middle- to lower-class Americans.

Meg Cianciolo also voted at Hunter this morning. Cianciolo said she voted "yes" for the city's millage proposal.

"Our houses aren't worth crap anymore," said Cianciolo, 57. "I think they do need a little money if they want to keep the status quo."

Cianciolo said she voted for Romney in the primary race because she believes he is most likely to make a change in office.

"Obama is taking us down the wrong path," Cianciolo said. "Him and Congress are spending more money than we have. We're spending our children's future."

7 a.m.: Polls in Clawson have officially opened.