Voting has begun; ballots now also in Arabic language

By Charles Sercombe
The Aug. 2 Primary Election is just two weeks away.
Hamtramck ballots are now available at the city clerk’s office in city hall. Absentee ballots are also available.
For the first time, ballots will now be printed in Arabic. The city has been making ballots also available in the Bengali language. Of course, ballots printed in English remain standard.
There are no local ballot proposals, but there is a Wayne County proposal to continue a jail property tax millage of .9358 mills through 2031. The tax is expected to generate over $45 million in 2022.
There are some pivotal election races, but none involving local offices.
The one race to keep an eye on is the re-election of state Rep. Abraham Aiyash (D), who is facing several challengers. He is running in a re-drawn district, the 9th District.
Aiyash is a Hamtramck resident. Whoever wins the Democratic primary is likely to win in the November General Election, since the district he serves votes overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates.
Also up for re-election is state Sen. Adam Hollier (D), who is now running for an open seat as a Representative in the US Congressional 13th District, which is a newly drawn district.
The congressional district Hollier is seeking election in includes Hamtramck.
Hollier is facing some stiff competition for that position. Again, whoever wins this race on the Democratic side will likely win in November.
Hollier’s top challenger might be John Conyers III, the son of longtime Congressman John Conyers. If past elections are a guide, Conyers’ name recognition gives him an advantage.
Running for state senator in the 3rd District, which includes Hamtramck, are two Democratic opponents, Stephanie Chang and Toninu Reeve.
Former Hamtramck Mayor Karen Majewski is supporting Chang and Aiyash.
Also on the ballot is Hamtramck City Councilmember Mohammed Alsomiri, who is one of several challengers trying to unseat Wayne County Commissioner Martha Scott.
Scott has been in public office for decades, and has survived many challengers over the years. Once again, her name recognition gives her an advantage.
If you haven’t mailed back your absentee ballot, state Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is recommending that it get dropped off at city hall to avoid mail delivery delays.
“Drop boxes continue to be among the safe options that voters have to return their ballot securely this year, in addition to hand-delivering their ballot to their clerk’s office, voting early at their clerk’s office, or voting at their polling place on Election Day,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson in a recent press release.
For those who have not registered to vote, you can do so through election day until 8 p.m.
Posted July 22, 2022