WKTV Staff
The mid-term election is tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 6. Before you head to the polls, here are a few items you should know.
No photo ID, no problem: According to the state’s rules, a Michigan voter is required to show a photo ID or sign an affidavit attesting that he or she is not in possession of a photo ID to vote. In other words, if you forget your photo ID or don’t have one, but you are a register voter, you simply sign the ID and then you can cast your vote. All percents are required to have affidavits available for voters.
No straight ticket balloting: This year, the ballot does not have straight party ticket voting for Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green Party, etc. This means that voters will have to vote for each office: governor, secretary of state, etc., right on through to school boards.
Turn that ballot over: Ballots are two-sided. So make sure to flip the ballot over. The order is governor, secretary of state, state attorney general, congressional candidates, state candidates, county candidates, judgeships, community college, local school districts, state proposals and, finally, county and local proposals.
Vote the number: If a section says vote for no more than two, vote for only two. If you vote for more, your vote will not be counted.
Absentee balloting: You have until 4 p.m. today (Monday, Nov. 5), to request an absentee ballot. You have until 8 p.m. the day of the election to return the absentee ballot to your municipality’s clerk’s office.
Get an early peek of the ballot: If you want to get an idea of which candidates and proposals will be on the ballot for your area, visit michigan.gov/vote. All the candidates will be listed along with their campaign finances and links to their websites. You can check to see if you are registered, where your polling place is, and if you filled out an absentee ballot, the status of that ballot.
All polls are open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Make sure you are in line by 8 p.m. to vote.
Here is another look at the state, county, and local candidates running in the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming,
City of Wyoming
Mayor Jack Poll is seeking his third term as the city’s mayor. He is running unopposed for the seat. Also running unopposed are Sam Bolt and Kent Vanderwood, both who are seeking re-election as council members at large. For the city’s 1st Ward Councilor seat, incumbent Sheldon DeKryger will face candidate Pete Rickertson. For more from the candidates, click here.
Kent County Board of Commissioners
The Kent County Board of Commissioners has 19 districts of which six represent portions of the cities of Kentwood and Wyoming. Of those six districts, two have unopposed candidates. Those districts are 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, and 13th. Harold Voorhees is running unopposed in the 8th District and Emily Brieve is running unopposed in the 10th District.
In the 7th District Kent County Commissioner race Republican incumbent Stan Ponstein, of Grandville, will be facing off against Democrat challenger Mike Johnson, of Wyoming.
In the 9th District Kent County Commissioner, Republican incumbent Matt Kallman is being challenged by Democrat candidate Bob Smith. Both are from Byron Center.
With the announcement that incumbent Harold Mast would not be seeking another term, the 12th District Kent County Commissioner race features three new faces, Republican Jill Martinez, Democrat Monica Sparks, and Green Party Charlotte Aikens.
For the 13th District Kent County Commissioner, Republican candidate Jessica Ann Tyson is challenging Democrat incumbent Betsy Melton. Both are from Kentwood.
For more on the candidates, click here.
State House of Representatives
The 72nd District House of Representative seat covers the cities of Kentwood and Wayland, along with a portion of Cutlerville and the community of Dorr. There are three candidates, one a one-term incumbent, seeking the 72th District House of Representatives. They are, in alphabetical order, Republican incumbent Steve Johnson, Libertarian candidate Jamie Lewis and Democratic candidate Ron Draayer.
The 77th District House of Representative seat covers the City of Wyoming, Byron Township and a portion of Cutlerville. There are three candidates, one a one-term incumbent, seeking the 77th District House of Representatives. They are, in alphabetical order, Republican incumbent Tommy Brann, Democratic candidate Dana Knight, and Libertarian candidate Patty Malowney.
For more on the candidates, click here.
State Senate
The 26th District of the State Senate includes the City of Kentwood along with all of Allegan and Van Buren counties. Three candidates are running in the Nov. 6 General election to replace term-limited Republican Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker. They are, in alphabetical order, Libertarian candidate Erwin Haas, Democratic candidate Garnet Lewis and Republican candidate Aric Nesbitt.
The 28th District of the State Senate includes the City of Wyoming as well as the cities of Walker, Rockford and Cedar Springs. In the 28th District State Senate race, three candidates are running in the Nov. 6 General election. They are, in alphabetical order, Democratic candidate Craig Beach, Libertarian candidate Nathan Hewer, and Republican incumbent Peter MacGregor.
For more from the candidates, click here.
U.S. House of Representatives
Michigan’s 2nd District of U.S. House of Representatives includes Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon and Ottawa counties as well as portions of Allegan, Mason and Kent counties including the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood. Three candidates are running in the Nov. 6 General election. They are, in alphabetical order, Democratic candidate Dr. Rob Davidson, U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Ronald Graeser and Republican Incumbent Bill Huizenga.
For more from the candidates, click here.
School Boards
All five public school districts in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas have school board elections. Of those districts, only two have contested races, Godwin Heights and Wyoming. School board elections will be towards the end of the ballot. For more on the candidates, click here.
