First Wave of Absentee Ballots: Sent

Ann Arbor voters in Ward 3 and Ward 4 who requested absentee ballots for the Aug. 6, 2013 Democratic primary election will start receiving them soon. The Ann Arbor city clerk’s office reported sending the first wave of absentee ballots on June 21.

The only primary for the Ann Arbor city council is in Wards 3 and 4 – a Democratic primary in both cases. In Ward 3, voters will choose between incumbent Stephen Kunselman and Julie Grand. In Ward 4, voters will choose between incumbent Marcia Higgins and Jack Eaton.

A tally of the spreadsheet provide by the clerk’s office shows that 297 absentee ballots were sent to Ward 3, and 401 were sent to Ward 4 voters. [.jpg of map showing distribution of absentee ballots sent within the city limits] In 2011 only 286 absentee ballots were cast in the three-way Ward 3 race. So the fact that the first-wave total of 297 already exceeds that number could indicate more interest in the race this year. That 2011 race was between Kunselman, Ingrid Ault and Marwan Issa.

Absentee ballots can be requested by filling out a form available on the city clerk’s website. More information on primary elections also is available on the city clerk’s website.