Election Update: Voting a Split Ticket Today Will Void Your Ballot

While you may not identify with a specific political party, for the three minutes you’ll spend at the polls this August, you’ll have no choice but to vote Republican or Democrat. 

The Aug. 7 primary ballot does not allow residents to vote a split ticket, as many are used to doing in November.

Within the partisan section of the ballot, which includes congressional, legislative, county and township offices, voters may only vote for candidates in one party. Votes across party lines will void this section of the ballot.

For example, a vote for incumbent Plymouth Township Clerk Joe Bridgman, who is a Republican, and a vote for Democratic State House incumbent Dian Slavens will void the entire partisan portion of the ballot.

However, this rule does not apply to the nonpartisan section of the ballot or the county millage proposals. Should you mistakenly split your partisan portion, this will not affect your nonpartisan votes. These votes will still be valid.

Will today's primary decide some races in Plymouth, Canton?

Because there are no Democrats running in some local races, some races could very well be decided tonight, including Plymouth Township supervisor and clerk and Canton Township supervisor, clerk and treasurer. 

Typically, if a candidate wins their primary, that means they have been nominated to represent their party in the general election. But if there is no opponent in the general election, their race in uncontested and they win by default.