Update: Voters Pass Two Hazel Park School District Millage Proposals

12:30 a.m.: A total of 3,842 ballots were cast in Ferndale on Tuesday for a total voter turnout of 23.79 percent, according to the Ferndale City Clerk's Office.

Voters approved two millage proposals for the Hazel Park School District, which includes Ferndale residents in Precinct 6 and Precinct 7.

The $8 million bond for athletic, technology and building upgrades passed with 57.69 percent of the vote, and a $1.5 million emergency repair fund passed with 57.49 percent of votes. Read the full proposals here.

The . Tri-county voters approved a tax of 0.2 mills for the next 10 years to fund the arts authority.

In Ferndale, 79.87 percent of voters supported the DIA millage, according to data from the city clerk's office.

All results are unofficial until confirmed by the clerk's office. Stay tuned to Ferndale Patch for more information and results from Tuesday's election.

8 p.m.: The polls have closed. Stay tuned for results.

5:30 p.m.: Several voters in Ferndale said the DIA millage issue was a top reason for coming out to the polls on Tuesday.

Anne Simonetti, a Ferndale resident and co-owner of , said supporting the DIA was the most important issue to her on the ballot today. "We've been members for years," she said.

Ray Crucet, of Ferndale, also said the DIA was most important to him. "It's a local treasure and I don't want to see it underfunded," he said.

Leslie Maeder-Knopf, of Ferndale, and her two daughters were campaigning outside the Kulick Center in support of the DIA millage. She said the response has been positive. "Most people say, 'Keep the flyer,'" she said. "It's an automatic yes [vote]."

"To have the DIA disappear would be a shame," she said.

Maeder-Knopf said having her young children with her was representative of why the millage is so important. "It's for the kids too, so it's around for them," she said, pointing out that her girls have started sketching when they visit the institute.

Phil Lombard and Becky Hammond, of Ferndale, rode their bikes to the Kulick Center on Tuesday afternoon to vote. Hammond said the DIA millage, which she supports, was initially the main reason she wanted to come out to vote.

"It's important to have it there," she said of the DIA.

She said she also wanted to vote for Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner.

2:30 p.m.: Oakland County Commission candidate Craig Covey campaigned with several volunteers outside Precincts 2 and 4 at in Huntington Woods earlier today.

Covey said he also had volunteers stationed in Hazel Park, Ferndale and Royal Oak Township.

, with whom he said he has a good relationship.

"We both told each other at the very beginning that neither of us would engage in any negativity," he said. "She used the word 'icky.' I used the word 'unfortunate.' "

Covey and Zack currently serve on the commission but, due to redistricting, are competing to represent the new 18th district, which includes Huntington Woods, Hazel Park, Oak Park, Royal Oak Township and Ferndale.

"We should not have to run against each other," Covey said. "My opponent is not the bad guy here. ... At the eleventh hour – more like 11:45 – the Republicans in Oakland County under (Executive L. Brooks Patterson) and (Clerk Bill Bullard) got with their henchmen up in Lansing and redrew the lines to get rid of two Democrats."

Covey noted that the county has been Republican-controlled for decades, but said Democrats "try to have relevance and impact."

Steven Zimberg of Huntington Woods is running for the commission on the Republican side of the ballot.

12:30 p.m.: Ferndale City Clerk Cherilynn Tallman said election day was going smoothly in Ferndale, with the exception of some voters who have been confused over not being able to vote a split ticket.

The primary ballot does not allow residents to cross-vote, as many are used to doing in November.

Within the partisan section of the ballot, which includes congressional, legislative and county offices, voters may only vote for candidates in one party. Votes across party lines will void this section of the ballot.

"[Voters] get confused about the fact they can't cross-vote," Tallman said.

She said some voters have taken their frustration about the issue out on election inspectors.

"I would like to encourage people to be respectful," Tallman said. "My inspectors are just doing what the state requires them to do."

Tallman said voter turnout is expected to be about 20 to 25 percent.

11 a.m.: The was seeing a "steady stream" of voters late Tuesday morning, said election worker Terry Hessell.

"It's been constant," she said.

Julie Adams, of Ferndale, voted at Kulick and said she felt strongly about supporting the DIA millage. "The art institute was the most important to me," she said.

Ferndale resident Marcia Alther also felt strongly about the DIA proposal and she wanted to support the SMART millage. "The most important thing for me was the DIA and the SMART bus. That's the main reason why I came out," she said. "I know people that they have no other way to get to work [other than the bus]."

8 a.m.: The polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday – primary Election Day – and Ferndale Patch will provide updates throughout the day, as well as results on a host of races and ballot issues after the polls close at 8 p.m

• To find out about polling locations and what's on the ballot, check out our .
• If you'd like to view a sample ballot, use this handy tool: