Groveland and Brandon township residents turned out to vote May 3 in numbers that doubled and tripled the amount of voters from the election a year ago.
For the Brandon school election, in which D’Anna Keeble was chosen for a seat on the school board and two millages were passed, 1,170 Brandon Township residents voted. This represents 16.02 percent of the total number of registered voters? 11,407, said township clerk Jeannie McCreery. She also reported 516 Groveland Township voters turned out, 11.77 percent of 4,384 registered voters.
‘We’re very pleased with the turnout,? McCreery said. ‘Normally, with a school election, the turnout is low. They were nonstop all day. I’m very proud of all the election workers. They did a great job. They were always so cheerful and helpful to everybody, even with the long day.?
Last year, the turnout for the school election was 494 voters, 4 percent of 12,135 registered voters, said Sandy Bowen, Brandon Schools election coordinator.
She noted one possible reason for the higher turnout was because this was the first time in ten years a financial issue was on the school ballot.
Both millage proposals passed by an overwhelming margin according to Brandon Schools election returns, with 1,440 ‘yes? votes for proposal one, compared to 541 ‘no? votes. The first proposal was a renewal of 15.0410 mills for five years on non-homestead and business property. The second millage proposal, a reinstatement of 2.959 mills for five years on the same type of properties also passed by a wide margin, with 1,286 yes votes compared with 692 ‘no? votes.
In the Board of Education race, D’Anna Keeble won with 965 votes; Nancy Strohschein garnered 666 votes and Laura Cracchiolo, who had withdrawn from the race but whose name remained on the ballot, received 139 votes.
‘I am absolutely thrilled,? said Keeble, who starts her position July 3. ‘It’s a triple victory, having both millage proposals passed. The higher voter turnout is uplifting, it shows how much the community cares at all levels. I want to thank everyone who voted and all the people who supported me throughout the campaign. I am looking forward to working with Mr. Miller, the board, staff and community and helping Brandon Schools in any way possible.?
Another possible reason for higher voter turnout was the election consolidation act. Voters now go to their general election polling place for all elections, including school elections. Another change with the local government units rather than the schools now overseeing school elections is the matter of absentee ballots. Schools only sent absentee ballots upon request. The township automatically sends them to voters over the age of 60, as well as people who are on a list for absentee voting.
McCreery believes this is why 449 absentee ballots were returned this year, very near the entire vote total for the 2004 Brandon School election.