Volunteers Report Slow Turnout at Brighton, Brighton Township Polls

Polling sites in the City of Brighton and Brighton Township have been relatively quiet, with slow voter turnout as of Tuesday afternoon, according to volunteers working the polls.

As of 12:30 p.m., City of Brighton Precincts 3 and 4, both located inside the , had only seen a combined total of 130 voters.

City Hall, precinct 2, had only seen 45 voters as of 1 p.m.

According to the City Clerk's department, it has already seen an increase in absentee ballots compared to the 2010 Gubernatorial primary, with 502 ballots returned so far.

Brighton Township Clerk Ann Bollin said overall township turnout was low.

"It's very hard to equate primaries because it's a different primary," she said. "The 2010 was a Gubernatorial primary that had no local candidates so it's very hard. Also percentage turnout is based on the number of registered voters, so that's going to have a bearing. But I would say it's lighter than 2010."

Bollin said absentee ballots are right on target. The township has received about 80 percent of issued absentee ballots so far.

Voters have until polls close to return absentee ballots.

poll workers said the precincts have been dead since opening at 7 a.m. They reported a total of 137 voters for township precincts 3 and 8.

Precinct 8 also had five spoiled ballots, where voters forgot to vote straight party for the primary.

Brighton Township resident Frank Sadowski stood outside of Spencer Elementary passing out cards and wearing a yellow "Re-Elect Bezotte" shirt.

"It's been really slow," he said of the poll traffic. "One of the workers was just out here saying how slow it's been. It picked up a little during lunch."

Sadowski said he was headed home, but said he would return later this evening in hopes of seeing more traffic.

Election polls are open until 8 p.m. tonight. To locate your polling location, check out Patch's .