Proposal 1 Passes, School Board Members Elected and Other Election Results

The results are in, and Republican Donald Trump will return to the White House and serve as the 47th President of the United States, the Associated Press projects.

Further down the ballot, several key races have been decided at the county and city level, as unofficial results are in. 

Three incumbents, one newcomer elected to East Lansing Board of Education. 

Coming into the night, there were three full, four-year terms, and one two-year partial term up for grabs on the East Lansing Board of Education. Incumbents Chris Martin, Estrella Torrez and Elizabeth Lyons snagged full terms, and newcomer Abbie Tykocki was elected to the partial term. 

Lyons received the most votes with 9,570, followed by Torrez with 8,955 and Martin with 8,175. Felix Thibodeau’s 5,277 votes were not enough to claim a seat on the board. 

Tykocki beat out incumbent Gary Holbrook by gathering 8,458 votes to 4,574 for Holbrook.

To find out more about the candidates, check out the answers they provided to questions asked by ELi prior to the election.

• Candidates describe their qualifications, priorities if elected
• Candidates address school safety
• Candidates share their policy ideas

Voters support Proposal 1. 

Proposal 1, the ballot initiative that will impact the city’s housing and rental regulations, was supported by voters, as 7,972 voted in favor and 6,666 voted against. 

The proposal drew sometimes contentious interactions at city meetings, with those for and those against the amendment having differing interpretations of the amendment’s language and the existing city code.

Those in favor of the amendment have said it protects the homeowners’ right to have long term guests who do not pay rent. Those against the amendment say it will hurt the city’s ability to enforce its rental and housing regulations, and undo its rental restriction districts. 

Several incumbent county officials are reelected to seats. 

As is typically the case, Ingham County Democrats were mostly victorious on Election Day. 

Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth was reelected with 98,706 votes, running ahead of challenger Steve Fox who had 44,310. 

John Dewane, who was appointed to serve as county prosecutor two years ago, was supported by Ingham County voters, gathering 91,615 votes, beating out challenger Norm Shinkle who had 48,387. 

Barb Byrum was reelected as county clerk after receiving 94,759 votes, well ahead of Republican Joseph Werner’s 47,180.

Alan Fox was reelected as county treasurer, receiving 89,415 votes, beating out challenger Bruce Little’s 50,486 votes. 

In the Register of Deeds race, Derrick Quinney was reelected with 89.654 votes, ahead of Karla Skoczylas with 49,429 votes.

Patrick Lindemann will continue his long run as drain commissioner after receiving 91,095 votes, eclipsing the 48,670 votes for Bruce Beauchine. 

Finally, in the Ingham County Commissioner races, Democrats claimed 12 of the 15 seats on the commission. 

Voters approve millages for homeless services, CATA. 

The Ingham County Housing and Homeless Millage, which funds homeless services and expands housing options for low-to-moderate income people was approved with 82,891 votes for and 51,236 votes against.

The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) millage was renewed with 70,440 votes in favor and 31,060 against. The proposal, which was voted on by East Lansing, Lansing, Meridian Township, Lansing Township and Delhi Township, pays for public transportation in the area.

The Ingham County Lodging Excise Tax Increase was rejected with 76,955 votes against and 53,554 in favor. The ballot proposal would have increased the tax placed on businesses providing lodging for less than 30 days from 5% to 8%. 

Officials report shorter Election Day lines, smooth voting process.

Prior to the election, City Clerk Marie Wicks told ELi she hoped early voting would help cut down on long lines that were present during the 2022 elections, when some voters on the Michigan State University campus were in line after midnight. 

The city reported a high turnout at the Early Vote Centers, with more than 5,600 ballots cast, which likely played a role in lines being shorter on Election Day. Additionally, many residents vote via absentee ballot in the city.

At about 6:30 p.m. on Election Day, Co-Director of MSU Vote Renee Brown said that the longest wait times were about an hour at the MSU Election Day Vote Center, located at the WKAR studio, where students could register to vote and cast their ballot. 

Precinct 10 Chair Gary Beaudoin said there was rarely a line at his location at Edgewood United Church. He said in 2016 lines stretched down the church’s hallway, and attributed expanded early voting for the improvement. 

Beaudoin said there are many challenges that student voters face. He mentioned that some students need to register on Election Day, and others are registered at the wrong address. He gave the example of students turning 21 and accidentally changing their registration to a different city when they receive their new driver’s license as a common mistake. 

“They think they can come here and vote, but they can’t because they’re registered somewhere else,” he said. 

Shorter lines give election workers more time to help these voters, Beaudoin said. 

Beaudoin said he was grateful for the residents who were working at his precinct. He credited them for ensuring operations were smooth on Election Day. 

“I really am thrilled that we have this many volunteers, young and old, that come out and spend a half-day or a full-day doing their bit for democracy,” he said.

Correction: This story was corrected to state that Democrats won 12 of 15 Ingham County Commission seats.