Election Day 2022: Livingston County voters make their voices heard
Two incumbents ousted from Howell school board
Updated 8:30 a.m. ET Nov. 9, 2022
In the Howell Public Schools Board of Education election, eight candidates were vying for three six-year seats.
Newcomers Jason Bedford collected 9,562 votes (15.95%). Meg Marhofer received 8,857 votes (14.77%) and Christy Conn received 8,333 votes (13.9%)
Incumbent Brent Earl got 7,901 votes (13.18%). Incumbent Grace Trudell had 7,068 votes (11.79%). Tracy Flak received 6,395 votes (10.67%). Don Banfield got 6,169 votes (10.29%) and Charlie Aberasturi collected 5,674 votes (9.46%).
– Patricia Alvord, Livingston Daily reporter
Slotkin takes win over Barrett, here’s how Livingston County voters voted
Updated 8:15 a.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
In what was one of the most expensive house races in the country, Elissa Slotkin beat Tom Barrett in the House of Representatives for the newly drawn 7th District. With 94% of precincts reporting statewide, Slotkin received 183,470 votes (51%) and Barrett received 170,616 (47%). Libertarian Leah Dailey received 7,125 votes (2%).
In Livingston County, where 100% of precincts were reporting, Barrett led with 61,530 votes while Slotkin received 44,438. Dailey received 1,998.
– Sophia Lada, Livingston Daily reporter
Two new faces, Krebs reelected for Brighton Area Schools
Updated 8 a.m. ET Nov. 9, 2022
In the Brighton Area Schools Board of Education election, six candidates were vying for three four-year seats.
Jennifer Marks collected 8,635 votes (18.03%). Incumbent Angela Krebs received 8,484 votes (17.72%) and Andy Storm got 8,421 (17.59%).
Incumbent Ken Stahl received 7,916 votes (16.53%), Kelli Uphaus had 7,135 (14.9%) and Lyndsay Wing received 7,294 (15.23%).
– Patricia Alvord, Livingston Daily reporter
Theis and Bolin are re-elected
Updated 7:45 a.m. ET Nov. 9, 2022
In the 49th Michigan House District, Ann Bollin, R-Brighton, was re-elected after receiving 25,114 votes to Democrat Christina Kafkakis’ 19,908 votes, with an estimate of 99% of the votes being counted
In Livingston county, Bollin collected 60.01% of the votes and Kafkakis had 39.99%.
In the 22nd Michigan State Senate District, with 93.27% of the votes counted, Republican Lana Theis was reelected with 80,016 votes. Other candidates included Democrat Jordan Genso with 46,029 votes, Jon Elgas with 2,359 votes and Victoria McCasey with 1,110 votes.
In Livingston County, Theis had 61.25% of the votes, 64,817 total. Genso had 38,371 votes, Elgas had 1,834 and McCasey had 795.
– Patricia Alvord, LSJ reporter
Hamburg Township consolidation of trash collection proposal fails
Updated 7:15 a.m. ET Nov. 9, 2022
A proposal to consolidate Hamburg Township to a single trash hauler has failed with 6,681 voting no and 6,036 people voting yes.
Currently, Hamburg Township residents contract service directly with a company of their choice, allowing residents to choose whichever trash company they prefer.
– Patricia Alvord, Livingston Daily reporter
This morning, all votes were counted in Livingston County
Updated 7 a.m. ET Nov. 9, 2022
Good morning! To those following the election, that was a late night! Now, welcome to our early morning coverage where we will break down some of the results. According to the county website, 100% of the precincts in Livingston County were reporting results.
Countywide results indicate that Livingston County voters consistently voted for Republicans in both state and local races. According to unofficial results, 67% of voters voted in Tuesday's’s election — 109,656 out of 164,009 registered voters. In the 2018 midterms, 67% of voters voted, but there were fewer registered voters — 98,702 out of 147,839 voted.
We'll be updating results throughout the morning. Check back for further updates.
– Sophia Lada, Livingston Daily reporter
Close race for new 48th House seat at midnight
Updated 12:21 p.m. ET Nov. 9, 2022
A new state House district with voters in Livingston County is seeing a tightening race, as of a little before midnight, according to early results.
The new 48th Michigan House District that covers parts of Livingston, Washtenaw and Jackson counties was created when voting district lines were redrawn in the state.
As of around midnight, with more than 71% of the votes counted, the race was too close to call.
Ann Arbor Democrat Jennifer Conlin and Howell Republican Jason Woolford both took the lead at different points in the night.
The district includes Genoa and Hamburg townships, Pinckney and the southeast corner of Putnam Township. In Washtenaw County, the district includes Salem Township and northern Ann Arbor Township, as well as Northfield, Webster, Dexter and Lyndon townships. The district also includes a small portion of northeast Jackson County.
Other candidates for state House seats ahead in the polls, as of around midnight, were:
Brighton Republican Ann Bollin (49th district)
Howell Republican Robert Bezotte (50th district)
Linden Republican Mike Mueller (72nd district)
– Jennifer Eberbach, Livingston Daily
Early results show Republicans leading in county commission races
Updated 11:35 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Livingston County election officials are reporting partial results for seats on the Livingston County Board of Commissioners.
Republican candidates took an early lead in all the county’s nine districts.
The slate of male Republican candidates ran against a slate of female Democratic challengers.
Republican candidates for the county board in the lead as of the county’s 10:39 p.m. report:
Douglas Helzerman (1st district)
Dave Domas (2nd district)
Frank Sample (3rd district)
Wes Nakagiri (4th district)
Jay Drick (5th district)
Roger Deaton (6th district)
Martin Smith (7th district)
Nick Fiani (8th district)
Jay Gross (9th district)
– Jennifer Eberbach, Livingston Daily
Brighton defeats proposal for recreational marijuana stores
Updated 11:05 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
A proposal to allow at least two adult-use marijuana stores within the Brighton city limits failed to gain support from voters in the city, according to Livingston County’s unofficial election results.
All of Brighton’s four precincts were reporting full unofficial results, according to the county’s report, with about 58% of voters opposing the proposal with about 42% in support.
However, discussion of whether the city should pass an ordinance to allow some marijuana businesses in the city is set to continue at a meeting of Brighton City Council on Thursday. City officials are considering a separate proposed ordinance, which if passed by city officials, could allow a maximum of two marijuana stores in the city.
RELATED: Brighton to hold public hearing on pot stores after election; 'Say Yes' rep concerned
– Jennifer Eberbach, Livingston Daily
Livingston County election results website crashes
Updated 10:52 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Livingston County’s election website temporarily went down on election night.
County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley confirmed the website and unofficial election results went down.
The site came back online around 10:30 p.m. and appeared to go back down about 11 p.m.
Hundley also said some precincts were not able to send results to the county via modems, and those results will have to be delivered in person, which could delay the count.
– Jennifer Eberbach, Livingston Daily reporter
State Sen. Lana Theis takes an early lead
Updated 9:45 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Incumbent 22nd District state Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, took an early lead to keep her seat, with partial unofficial results reported at around 9:30 p.m.
While Livingston County voters remain in the 22nd District for state Senate, the area the district covers outside the county has changed. The redrawn district brings in different voters from portions of Ingham, Shiawassee, Genesee and Oakland counties.
Theis won over voters in Livingston County, with more than two-thirds of county voters’ support, according to early results.
Her challengers are Jordan Genso, a Brighton Democrat, as well as Libertarian Jon Elgas and US Taxpayers candidate Victoria McCasey.
— Jennifer Eberbach, Livingston Daily reporter
Partial results starting to come in
Updated 9:11 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Livingston County elections officials have started posting partial results online, as precincts begin their reporting process.
Most precincts in the county had not reported absentee ballot results, as of around 8:45 p.m., but have partial reports that include in-person votes. Iosco Township was the first municipality in the county to report full results.
The county updates its results documents as results come in at www.livgov.com/clerk/elections
Early results (without absentee ballots included) show voters in Brighton are not supporting a proposal to allow at least two adult-use recreational marijuana stores within city limits.
Partial results also show voters in Hamburg Township are not supporting a proposal to consolidate trash service.
Follow live updates here as results continue coming in. Hit refresh in your browser window, or bookmark and reload this link to ensure you have the most recently updated version.
— Jennifer Eberbach, Livingston Daily reporter
When results start coming in, here's how to watch
Updated 9 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Follow along with us here as live updates start to come in. You can also watch livingstondaily.com/elections/results for legislative races.
For additional results on the many local races decided by Livingston County voters today, visit the county election website, where live results may or may not be updated regularly depending on local clerks. (Note: Livingston Daily staff have no involvement in this website, nor in posting of updates.)
Hit refresh often on all results pages to ensure you're seeing the latest updates!
– Veronica Bolanos, Livingston Daily news assistant
‘Little hiccups’ reported at Livingston County polls
Updated 8:15 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Polling locations in the county have had a few “little hiccups,” but no major issues, Livingston County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley said this evening, at about 5 p.m.
Hundley said Genoa Township had a power issue at a voter-assist terminal that helps voters with disabilities cast their ballots, and multiple precincts across the county had some issues with electronic poll books shutting off.
Election workers also had to direct some people to their correct polling location or local clerk’s office.
“And there may have been an issue in Hartland Township in regard to some people campaigning approaching voters,” she said. “But for most things, it’s been pretty smooth.”
— Jennifer Eberbach, Livingston Daily reporter
Polls are now closed
Updated 8 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
It's 8 p.m. ET and polls are now closed across much of the state — although four western Upper Peninsula counties — Dickinson, Gogebic, Iron and Menominee — are in the Central time zone so polls there close an hour later at 9 p.m. ET.
It is also the deadline for returning an absentee ballot by drop box or to your local clerk. Remember, if you were in line before or at 8 p.m. stay in line because anyone in line by 8 p.m. must be allowed to vote
Live results in state legislative races will flow in at livingstondaily.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).
— Staff report
Michigan same-day registrations surpass 12,000, could hit 15,000
Updated 7:30 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Here are updated Election Day numbers from the Michigan Secretary of State office as of 6:30 p.m. ET.
Absentee ballots submitted: 1,832,931
Absentee ballots requested: 2,025,581
Same-day registrations: 12,537
Michigan Secretary of State spokesperson Jake Rollow said the highest number of same-day registrations continue to be at college towns like East Lansing and Ann Arbor. The longest lines were at Ann Arbor as of 7 p.m.
He said same-day registrations reached about 30,000 in 2020 and that the same-day number for this election could be more than 15,000 before the end of the day.
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.
— Bryce Airgood, Lansing State Journal reporter
Voters express why it’s important to vote
Updated 7:30 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
At the Livingston Educational Service Agency in Howell, 509 voters cast a ballot in Precinct 1 and 424 voted in Precinct 2 at about 2:40 p.m.
Karl Salgado is one of those voters. He went to vote today because he thinks it’s important to vote.
“I’m here to let my voice (be) heard and be known,” he said.
Randall Green also voted in Howell. He said it was an especially important election because of the economic climate.
– Sophia Lada, Livingston Daily reporter
Handy Township has a good turnout, clerk said
Updated 7:30 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Handy Township Clerk Laura Eisele said there’s been a good turnout today and things are going smoothly. As of 3:20 p.m., there were 452 voters that had voted in Precinct 1, 415 in Precinct 2 and 650 in Precinct 3.
Eisele said there are not as many voters as there are during the presidential election, but there is a normal amount of voters compared to other midterm elections.
Among those voters is Josh Docusen, who said he votes in every election.
What’s important to him in this election is voting against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
– Sophia Lada, Livingston Daily reporter
Last minute reminders before the polls close at 8 p.m.
Updated 7 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum and East Lansing City Clerk Jennifer Shuster have 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 drop box 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.
— Veronica Bolanos, Battle Creek Enquirer news assistant
Unofficial results expected to come in throughout the night
Updated 6:30 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
After the polls close at 8 p.m., some precincts in Livingston County could turn around unofficial results quickly, while others could take a while.
“I expect results are going to stagger in throughout the evening. As long as there are no problems closing polls, we should be receiving some results as soon as 8:15 p.m.,” Livingston County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley said.
Hundley said waiting for all the unofficial results to come in requires “patience.”
She said results could come in slower in precincts using high-speed tabulators to count absentee votes, because those results are read manually at the county elections office. She said Hamburg, Genoa and Brighton townships are using them.
“It will either be when those clerks bring them in (on a memory device) or if they contact me to have someone pick a memory device,” she said.
She said she expects some absentee counting boards could be counting votes “late into the night.”
— Jennifer Eberbach, Livingston Daily reporter
Brighton voters consider marijuana store proposal
Updated 6:30 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Brighton residents are casting votes for and against a proposal to allow at least two adult-use recreational marijuana stores within city limits.
“I think it’s time, and I’m open to it,” said Nick McNamara, who voted in favor of the proposal at the Brighton Community Center. “I don’t use it, but I think it’s a step in the right direction for some people.”
Lisa Spitler was outside the community center with a sign urging people to vote against it.
“I don’t think It's a great addition to the community,” Spitler said. “I know people who use it, that’s not in question. But in a 2.9-mile community, is there room for these to be here and not conflict with churches, schools, I would say even senior living. It was written in such a way that wasn’t appropriate for our community.”
– Jennifer Eberbach, Livingston Daily reporter
Voter turnout ‘steady’ throughout day
Updated 6 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Livingston County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley said local clerks are reporting a steady voter turnout.
“I can tell you this morning, we had lines at the polls when they opened, and what I’ve heard from clerks is that it has stayed steady throughout the day,” Hundley said a little after 5 p.m.
She said it is hard to predict how voter turnout will compare to other elections.
“You would think with the statewide ballot proposals there would be interest, but it’s hard to guess,” she said.
— Jennifer Eberbach, Livingston Daily reporter
Updated Election Day numbers from Michigan Secretary of State
Updated 5:30 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Here are updated Election Day numbers from the Michigan Secretary of State office as of 5 p.m. ET.
Absentee ballots submitted:1,807,127
Absentee ballots requested: 2,022,885
Same-day registrations: 8,828
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.
— Bryce Airgood, LSJ reporter
School board candidates continue to campaign outside polling places
Updated 5 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Howell resident Reagan Marhofer was standing outside of the Livingston Educational Service Agency in support of school board candidates Jason Bedford and Meg Marhofer, her mom.
She said her mother is not a politician and really cares about the well-being of the students.
Danielle Devries, a school board candidate in Fowlerville, was standing outside of the Handy Township polling location, ready to answer questions for voters.
“This place has been busy all day, it’s amazing,” she said.
Aside from their day-of campaigning strategies, school board candidates have spent a lot to come out on top, here’s what I found through their campaign finance reports: School Board candidate spending is "unusual" this election (livingstondaily.com)
– Sophia Lada, Livingston Daily reporter
Steve and Karen Mahan went to polls to make changes
Updated 4:30 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Steve and Karen Mahan want to see changes made in legislation.
What led them to the polls Tuesday at the Hartland Educational Support Service Center was making sure that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is defeated and state Sen. Lana Theis is re-elected.
Karen Mahan added that they both voted to defeat Proposal 3.
– Patricia Alvord, Livingston Daily reporter
Business as usual at Hartland Educational Support Service Center, township clerk
Updated 4 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Hartland Township Clerk Larry Ciofu reported that more than 2,000 people have voted as of early afternoon.
“Very standard. It has been a little bit busier than normal than what we’ve seen in past elections. There was a rush at the opening, like there always is, but there was a big rush at 10 o’clock which was kind of unusual and then from then it has been steady,” Ciofu said.
There were lines at each precinct. At one point more than a dozen people were waiting in line at Precinct 4.
– Patricia Alvord, Livingston Daily reporter
Problems voting? Reach out to us or the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline
Updated 3:30 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
If you have any issues voting, working or volunteering on Election Day, let us know. Some state and federal officials have expressed concerns about possible voter suppression or intimidation Tuesday.
To report any issues to the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline, use one of the following phone numbers:
866-OUR-VOTE (English)
888-VE-Y-VOTA (Spanish)
844-YALLA-US (Arabic)
888-API-VOTE (Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese)
You may also reach out to us in the Livingston Daily newsroom with concerns and/or story ideas. Contact us by emailing … or call ...
– Dan Basso, Livingston Daily news editor
More than 2 million sought absentee ballots
Updated 3 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
More than 2 million Michigan voters have requested absentee ballots and 1.7 million have been returned, according to early Tuesday figures from the Secretary of State’s office. Elections are conducted by local clerks in the state’s decentralized election system with $8 million in grants sent to local clerks to help secure the election. Local clerks created emergency and contingency plans, which now include the potential for intentional disruption, state officials said during a morning press conference. No widespread problems have been reported statewide this morning.
– Mike Ellis, LSJ reporter
'It’s a duty to vote,' Genoa Township voter says
Updated 2:30 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Deatrick Moore, a Genoa Township voter, said it’s his duty to vote. He was at Genoa Township hall Tuesday morning verifying his address on his voter registration before going back to his precinct at Hornung Elementary School to vote.
“You know, just being African American it’s always been a hard thing to vote, right? We didn’t have voting rights,” he said. “I feel as if I have a responsibility to make sure we vote.”
– Sophia Lada, Livingston Daily reporter
Genoa Township absentee ballot counting is well underway
Updated 2:15 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Genoa Township Clerk Polly Skolarus said it’s going to take all day to finish counting absentee ballots, but she doesn’t think it will take longer than Tuesday. The township sent out 5,979 absentee ballots and received 5,585 back – 93% of those sent out.
“That’s a pretty good number,” Skolarus said. 384 ballots were sent out and not received.
– Sophia Lada, Livingston Daily reporter
Same-day voter registration driven by college towns
Updated 2 p.m. ET, Nov. 8, 2022
Michigan Secretary of State spokesperson Jake Rollow reported that 3,666 people registered to vote on Election Day as of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The same-day registrations are led by college towns Ann Arbor and East Lansing, which together account for about 1 in 6 same-day registrations (the cities account for less than 2% of the state’s population).
He said tens of thousands registered in the 2020 general election.
About 1,759,000 absentee ballots had been returned by 12:30 p.m., Rollow said.
Election results may not be available from some jurisdictions until 24 hours after polls close because the counting of those 1.7 million ballots cannot start until then, he said.
-Mike Ellis, LSJ reporter
Voting underway across Michigan; follow our live updates
Updated 1 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Across Livingston County, voters will select which candidates will take office in the state legislature, on county boards and more. In addition, voters also face a variety of ballot proposals. Among them:
Local proposals: Livingston County has eight ballot proposals to consider (livingstondaily.com)
Marijuana on ballot in Brighton: Marijuana stores will be on November ballot for Brighton voters (livingstondaily.com)
Livingston Daily staff will provide live updates to this blog throughout the day to keep you informed on Livingston County’s competitive local races. Bookmark this page and click refresh to stay up to date.
– Jayne Higo, Livingston Daily news assistant
Follow along here for live updates on the Nov. 8 general election
Updated 12 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2022
Today, Nov. 8 is Election Day! And your local news team at the Livingston Daily will provide live coverage throughout the day, including:
Sharing of advance news stories
News and photo galleries from polls across Livingston County
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. You can also follow us at Facebook.com/LivingstonDailyPress and on Twitter @LivingstonDaily for updates.
– Jayne Higo, Livingston Daily news assistant
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Michigan general 2022: Live coverage from Livingston County
