UPDATED: Poll Workers Report Slow Turnout for Dearborn Primary

[UPDATE 3 P.M.] Dearborn City Clerk Kathleen Buda said turnout at the polls has been light for most of the day.

"I do not expect any more than 20 to 25 percent turnout," Buda said.

She said the main complaints at polling locations involve candidates who are leaving political signs unattended.

"Other than that, there has been no major problems today," she said. "We'll all be better once the election is over."

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DEARBORN — Voter turnout for the Dearborn primary election this morning was low at polling places around the city.

"There's not much on the ballot, and because it's local candidates, people don't feel it's as important as the presidential election," Jessica Lyon, election chairwoman for Precinct 28 said.

Lyon said as of Tuesday morning, volunteers helped 26 voters.

"That is typical for a primary election," she said. "Last primary election, we had about 119 ballots. We're hoping for 400 by the end of the day."

Lyon said she typically sees an influx from Ford Motor Company employees around noon and 6 p.m.

"Of course we always have folks running in at the last minute right before 8 p.m.," she said.

Nick Siroskey said Precincts 22 and 23 at St. Joseph Church on Rotunda Drive had about nine voters as of 9 a.m.

"We typically see the early morning folks show up right at 7 a.m., and then it tapers off until 5:30 p.m. My guess is that turnout will be 20 percent or less."

Mohamed Alli Sareini was passing out flyers for city council candidate Mike Sareini at several polling sites and said he also noticed a lower turnout.

"Based on my past experiences, people just do not turn out for a primary election. It doesn't help that it's not a presidential election year," he said.

Still, he said he hopes his candidate pulls in enough votes to move on in the November election. There are 21 city council candidates vying for 14 slots on the November ballot.

"Mike has a good campaign platform and he will provide a valuable service to the community. He knows how to communicate well and listen to Dearborn residents," Sareini said.

Fareed Shalhout, president of the Arab Student Union at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, said he is supporting candidate Tarek Baydoun.

"Tarek is really dedicated to the city. His initiatives are realistic, and when he talks, you can tell that he cares about the future of Dearborn," Shalhout said.

Shalhout said Baydoun has concentrated his efforts on the youth vote, and hopes to mobilize Dearborn's younger generation to come out to the polls on Tuesday.

A poll worker, wishing to remain anonymous, said Precincts 8 and 9 at Maples Elementary School had roughly 19 people vote as of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

"It's pretty typical to have a low turnout during the primary. Local races don't pull in as many people as you might think. The interest just isn't there, though it should be," he said.

Polls are open until 8 p.m. tonight. Come back to Dearborn Patch for the results of the election. You can view a voter guide online here.