Voters across Ypsilanti hit the polls on Nov. 3, including at the Eastern Michigan University Honors College voting location.
Typically, midterm election voter turnout is significantly lower than year's when the country's future president is on the ballot. This midterm, voters flocked to their cast ballots. In Washtenaw County, voter turnout was 71.90% — 5.72% higher than it was in 2024 , a presidential election year, showed unofficial election results .
Voting was open at the Honors College between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day. The campus building served as the voting location for residents living in Ward 2, Precinct 4 and Ward 3, Precinct 1.
Regarding the qualities they look for in a candidate, voters agreed on principles of integrity and action. However, voters varied in the specific policies and beliefs they look for.
Poll worker Marlie Hooper poses with "I Voted" stickers and a ballot folder at the Honors College voting site on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Brittney Donaldson, an EMU alumna and current Ypsilanti City resident, said she looks for a candidate who is honest and runs on policy. Donaldson said she felt it was her duty as a Black woman to exercise her right to vote, especially because her ancestors did not have the same opportunity.
Donaldson said she has voted at the Honors College for the last four elections and has had a consistently smooth experience each time.
Ruby Brewis, a resident of Ypsilanti City, said she looks for a candidate who is “generally anti-billionaire, pro-socialism, supportive of free healthcare and pro-Palestine.”
Brewis said she has been consistently voting since 2022, and has had positive experiences in the polls.
Liz Street, an EMU student, said she looks for a candidate who is not “butt-old .” She said as a queer person herself, she looks for candidates that support LGBTQ+ rights. She said she also looks for candidates that support free healthcare and abortion rights.
“I’m so sick of everything, and I need to see a change,” she said of her motivations for voting.
People wait in line to make their voice heard on Election Day at the Eastern Michigan University Honors College polling location Nov. 3, 2026.
Gabrielle Walker, an EMU student, said she looks for a candidate who matches her values, which she described as very left-leaning; she seeks proponents of policies that benefit the majority of people. She said she has voted at the Honors College since she was 18 and has always had a smooth experience. Walker is very grateful to be able to vote, she said.
April Tate, an Ypsilanti City resident, said she looks for a candidate that will do the most good for the city. She said she believes it is good for people to vote. Tate has been voting for over 20 years, but this was only her third time voting at the Honors College location, she said. She said she had a good experience and received help from the poll workers.
Jonathan Frontier, an Ypsilanti City resident, said he looks for candidates that display integrity and honesty. He has been voting for about 20 years but said this was his first time voting at the Honors College. He said his experience at the polls was positive.
“It was great,” he said. “Everyone was really helpful and timely, considering how many people were in there.”
Mary Seelhorst, who has been a poll worker at the Honors College for the past six years, said she was surprised by the voter turnout this year.
“Compared to [past] midterms, this is a lot,” she said. “I was not expecting this many people. It’s a lot more than the normal amount.”
Poll worker Mary Seelhorst directs voters to the proper voting location to vote for their ward and precinct at the Honors College voting site Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Voters can find more information about election results on The Eastern Echo.