Days away from the Aug. 5 primary, the Michigan Chronicle went canvassing across several neighborhoods across the city to check-in with residents on their voting plans.
Most people who answered their doors said they weren’t voting.
It’s not surprising.
Approximately 80% of eligible voters won’t show up on Election Day. Low voter turnout during local elections isn’t an issue just in Detroit, but in urban places across the country.
Election officials in Detroit have said to expect a 13-18% turnout for the Aug. 5 primary that will narrow the nine candidate field to the top two vote getters. That’s anywhere from 60,000 to 95,000 voters.
So far, we’ve talked to homeowners in three different neighborhoods. Door knocking in Virginia Park, Palmer Park and on the East side between E. Warren and Mack proved what polls have shown: Detroit City Council president Mary Sheffield and Triumph Church Solomon Kinloch are the most popular candidates.
While recent polling shows nonpofit leader Saunteel Jenkins competing with Kinloch for the number two spot, door knocking revealed attorney Todd Perkins also has a substantial base.
Here’s what we heard when talking to voters in Virginia Park earlier this week:
Lillian Johnson, an 82-year-old homeowner on Churchill Street, was one of a handful of voters who told Michigan Chronicle they had already voted by mailing her absentee ballot. Johnson said she voted for Sheffield because she’s the candidate she’s seen the most, she said. Charity Lewis also said she plans to vote with an abentee. She said she’s still doing research to determine who to vote for. Another absentee voter, Dominique Stallworth, is voting for Saunteel Jenkins because she’s the most experienced, she said.
About 37,000 ballots have been returned as of Thursday, July 24.
Devon Larkin is voting for Sheffield because he feels she’s the most qualified. But his fiancé is voting for Kinloch. She’s got a ‘UAW for Kinloch’ and a ‘Kinloch for Mayor’ hanging in the front door frame. Larkin said he’s been impressed by Sheffield’s commitment to community outreach and supporting the youth. He has concerns about the values held by some at Triumph Church.
“I smoke weed, I’m pretty sure they don’t like that,” he said.
Geri Jones is voting for Todd Perkins. Jelecko Whitaker, her boyfriend, is voting for Solomon Kinloch. Jones says she supports Perkins because he’s a good lawyer and lives in North End, where she’s from. She said her boyfriend is a member at Triumph.
Brothers, Alex and Bill Brown are supporting Todd Perkins. They repeated Perkins’ campaign line, saying the attorney is “for the people.” The Browns cited the high cost of childcare as one of many issues he hopes is addressed by the next mayor.
Arlelia Crain is voting for Solomon Kinloch. Crain said she likes Mary Sheffield, but she feels like she doesn’t show up on her side of District 5 as her council representative.
“She held a sports event over there in the park yesterday, she gave out some shoes, but that’s all she does,” Crain said.
Caesar Cabrero isn’t voting because he feels politics are corrupt. Cabrero, a mechanic who repairs engines at a local moped repair shop, said his vote won’t stop what’s happening in Gaza. He said the war has caused to him to lose trust in either political party.
Trevon Washington is a registered voter who plans to vote on Election Day Aug. 5, but says he needs to do more research on Detroit’s mayoral candidates. He said the cost of living, and supporting homeowners are key priorities he hopes the next mayor will tackle.
About Post Author
