Voters Delayed In Ferndale After Polling Place Opens Late

FERNDALE, MI — Polls in Michigan were set to open to voters at 7 a.m. on Election Day, but about 40 people in line at University High School, formerly known as Coolidge School, in Ferndale, were delayed because election staff did not have keys to open the building, officials said Tuesday.

According to Ferndale Clerk Marne McGrath, staff did not have keys to unlock and open the building because it is not operated by the city. When staff arrived to the building and realized the issue, they contacted Ferndale Public Schools at 6:24 a.m. A district custodian arrived with a key at 7:01 a.m. to let workers in.

An election specialist who arrived to the location at 7:15 a.m. told McGrath there were about 40 people in line at the time.

Patch was notified of the issue at the former Coolidge School through ProPublica's Electionland project. A resident reported that the polling location was not open because "someone lost the key" and claimed that at least 100 people were waiting in line when they learned they could not vote.

The resident also reported that at least 10 to 20 people left when they learned they would be delayed, including one at 7:23 a.m.

The precinct was open and processing voters by 7:20 a.m., McGrath said.

What was your experience like at your polling place? Did you encounter long lines or significant wait times?

Share your experiences and comments by emailing joey.oliver@patch.com or in the comments below.

If you still plan to vote in person, polls in Michigan are open through 8 p.m. Go here for more information on how and where to vote in person.