PHOTO: PAW PAW VOTERS WAIT TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY, NOV. 3, 2020
by: WOODTV.com staff
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — After observing West Michigan showed up in droves Tuesday to vote in a contentious presidential election, with some sites seeing dozens of people in line to cast their ballots as polls opened.
City officials said by Tuesday evening, Grand Rapids ’total voter turnout had reached nearly 64%. To contrast that, in November 2016, turnout in Grand Rapids was about 63%. In November 2008, the first time President Barack Obama was elected, turnout was 66%.
Observers say polling sites in the city started seeing voters right away when they opened. More than 60 people were lined up outside the St. Paul’s Anglican Church on West Side shortly after 7 a.m.
Voter Lillian Harkless, who went to the Grand Rapids city clerk’s satellite office at Election Central on Market Avenue SW to register and vote on Election Day said, “My vote counts, my vote is very important. I have that right and I just needed to vote."
Harkless told News 8 that she was looking for a candidate who would “keep the peace and keep everyone kind.”
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