KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Voters head to the polls for local elections across the state tomorrow.
There are no statewide issues to decide, but Kalamazoo and Portage will be filling three seats each on their city boards and Portage will be picking a new mayor.
Current Council Members Nasim Ansari and Patricia Randall are running to replace long time Mayor Peter Strazda who decided not to run for reelection. In Kalamazoo, incumbent Mayor Bobby Hopewell is being challenged by write-in candidate Chris Wahmhoff.
In Kalamazoo County, this will be the first time new voting equipment will be used.
Most voters may not notice the difference. They will still be filling in the ovals and feeding the tabulators.
It’s the tabulators and the equipment that counts the vote that are all new.
Impaired voters may notice a difference. The new voting systems used to make voting easier for them are more user-friendly and versatile.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.