Bedford Township expecting late results

11/6/2012

TEMPERANCE -- Bedford Township officials say they expect a late night because of write-in races. The incumbent supervisor, Walt Wilburn, is running as a write-in and there are four write-in candidates for the Bedford Board of Education. The polls in Michigan closed at 8 p.m. The township has 14 precincts and 8 polling places.

Township election clerk Garnet Francis said all of the write-in votes must be hand-counted before the ballots are sent to the Monroe County Clerk.

The county's Board of Canvassers then will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday to validate the votes.

The four-member panel, consisting of two Democrats and two Republicans, has total discretion and will strive to determine a voter's intent in cases where there are questions about the way a candidate's name is written, said its chairman, Patti Braden, a LaSalle Township Republican.

Ms. Francis said she expected turnout to be about 80 percent, the same as in the general election of 2008.