2013 General Election: Absentee Ballot First Wave

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Based on data provided by the Ann Arbor city clerk’s office, by the end of the day on Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, at least 1,698 absentee ballots will have been mailed to voters who requested such ballots for the Nov. 5, 2013 general election.

On the ballot for Ann Arbor residents are two items: (1) city council races; and (2) continuation of the Ann Arbor Public Schools sinking fund millage.

A precise breakdown of absentee ballots by ward is difficult, because some of the combined precincts in the election cross wards. However, at least 380 of the first wave of ballots will be sent to residents of Ward 2, which will be a carefully watched race. That’s a contest between independent incumbent Jane Lumm, Democratic challenger Kirk Westphal, and independent challenger Conrad Brown.

Two years ago, in the 2011 Ward 2 race between Democrat Stephen Rapundalo and independent Jane Lumm, 731 absentee ballots were cast. Lumm received about 63% of those absentee votes, which was about three points better than she did overall in prevailing.

The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 5 election is Monday, October 7, 2013. Information on how to do that is available on the city clerk’s website. Information on how to request an absentee ballot is available on the same website.

The local League of Women Voters is again this year hosting candidate forums. They’ll be broadcast live on Community Television Network’s Channel 19, which is also streamed live over the Internet. [Channel 19 live stream] The schedule for those debates:

  • Oct. 1, 2013 at 7 p.m. Ward 3: Stephen Kunselman (incumbent Democrat); Sam DeVarti (independent).
  • Oct. 1, 2013 at 8 p.m. Ward 5: Mike Anglin (incumbent Democrat); Thomas Partridge (declared write-in).
  • Oct. 2, 2013 at 7 p.m. Ward 1: Sabra Briere (incumbent Democrat); Jeff Hayner (independent); Jaclyn Vresics (independent). [Vresics has announced that she's withdrawn from the race, but she did so too late to prevent her name from appearing on the ballot.]
  • Oct. 2, 2013 at 8 p.m. Ward 2: Jane Lumm (incumbent independent); Conrad Brown (independent); Kirk Westphal (Democrat).

Democrat Jack Eaton, who prevailed over incumbent Marcia Higgins in the August primary, is not opposed in Ward 4.