City Clerks Say Despite Long Lines, Election Went Well

Despite thousands of voters creating long lines at polling places across Farmington and Farmington Hills, clerks for both cities say Election Day went virtually without a hitch. 

Turnout in Farmington precincts ranged from 74.5 percent in Precinct 4 to 82.85 percent in Precinct 1. In Farmington Hills, turnout was as low as 62 percent in Precinct 17 and as high as 81 percent in Precinct 23. 

Anticipating the larger turnout, clerks set up as many voting stations as precinct locations would allow. Farmington clerk Sue Halberstadt and Farmington Hills city clerk Pam Smith said voting machines worked without a hitch all day long.

But while Halberstadt said she received no calls about the long lines, voters in Farmington Hills did contact Smith about waits that at least one voter said stretched as long as two hours. 

"We definitely had long lines," Smith said, adding that complaints are common during a presidential election, when turnout is always high. "We tried to go out and give them more voting booths, but we just ran out of space."

Voters at one precinct had home-baked cookies and other refreshments to keep them happy. Volunteers at The Crossing Church, Precinct 2, kept a counter of goodies stocked during the day. Church member Jim St. Louis said when the church stepped up to fill the void left by the closing of the polling place at the Maxfield Training Center several years ago, "We decided we'd make it a better experience to wait in line."