Dearborn Turnout Low So Far on Election Day

Warm weather on Election Day in Dearborn didn't seem to make a difference in the voter turnout as of early afternoon on Tuesday–but it did make conditions more pleasant for canvassers handing out information and talking with residents about the ballot issues at hand.

"It's been sort of slow," said Dearborn firefighter Stuart Debrowsky, who was out at (Precincts 40 and 41) to show support for Proposals 1 and 2 with fellow firefighter Matt Rae.

Debrowsky and Rae said the location had seen about 100 voters by 1 p.m., and that most of the people they talked to were in support of the proposals to levy 3.5 and 1 mill increases on residents to help with city services and the Dearborn Public Library.

"The majority were for it," Debrowsky said. "There were many more people that said they'd vote yes."

Voter turnout midday at (Precinct 44) was slightly higher, with around 150 voters by 1:30 p.m. There, members of the Dearborn Fire Department had also been working in shifts all day to pass out information.

Moving east and south, voter turnout dwindled.

At (Precincts 15 and 16), around 10-15 people had voted by 8 a.m.

By 1 p.m. at (Precinct 19), canvassers said they had seen around 40 voters.

There, several students had been out all day handing out voters' guides on behalf of the Arab American Political Action Committee. The AAPAC urged residents to vote no on both millage proposals, as well as Proposal 3, which looks to eliminate the city's Civil Service System.

Sixteen-year-old Alaa Makki said he's learned a lot by volunteering with AAPAC about the importance of protecting jobs and funding for the city and schools. Some of what he learned, he said, was from talking with firefighter Shane Ramin, who was also volunteering at City Hall.

"I've learned ... that whatever it takes to make Dearborn a good place to live, they should do it," Makki said.

Ramin said that the overall feeling volunteers from the fire department's union had gotten "has been in support of Proposals 1 and 2."

The feeling was similar for canvassers at , who had seen only 47 voters by 2 p.m. Still, the Yemeni American Political Action Committee handed out voters' guides, urging support of all three proposals.

For more election information for Dearborn, check out Patch's .

Stay with us all day for continued updates on the election, as well as live election results beginning at 8 p.m.