© Tabi Walters

Election watchers

Tallying the votes

by Eve Silberman

posted 10/29/2012

Ann Arbor's voter turnout explodes during presidential years: two-thirds more people voted in 2008 than 2010. Yet county clerk Larry Kestenbaum says that, barring some fiasco, the local presidential vote should be posted just two hours after the polls close on November 6.

As a Democratic candidate for re-election, Kestenbaum himself will be barred from polling places that day (except when he votes himself, at Pioneer High). He plans to spend the day keeping in touch, by phone, as a troubleshooter. "We're sort of the backup for the city or township clerks," he says, explaining that he can hire last-minute workers if needed or refresh callers on rules (for example, the media can do "exit interviews," but can't talk to waiting voters). Once the polls close, the votes will be counted at the precincts and the tallies relayed to Kestenbaum, who'll post them at ewashtenaw.org.

As convenient as it is to follow the vote online, some revved-up political junkies still want to watch the tally at the clerk's office at 200 N. Main. For them, Kestenbaum--a political junkie himself--plans to put out some snacks in the lobby. He adds that county treasurer Catherine McClary--herself up for reelection--"also provides some apples and chips."   

[Originally published in October, 2012.]