LANSING (WKZO AM/FM) — The Michigan Campaign Finance Network which tracks spending by candidates says this was by far the most expensive campaign in state history, and that’s with a number of expenditures yet to be reported.
The Network’s Craig Mauger says so far he has been able to track about $291-million, that was spent on this year’s election cycle and he expects that number will go higher when candidates submit their final finance reports in January. That’s up 19% from the last mid-term.
The previous record was $262-million spent in 2012.
He says there are a number of reasons why it cost more. One reason may be because people cared more and were willing to contribute more money.
The fact that there were contested primaries in both parties and a decision by the legislature to lift the ceiling on donations also contributed to the increase.
(KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP) — Not everyone is profiting from the election.
Kalamazoo Township Clerk Mark Miller says that poll workers may not work often, but when they do, they work long hours for very little pay.
He calls them “heroes of Democracy”. He says they make democracy work, and lately they have been tasked with making sure that no one, domestic or international, tampers with the results of American elections.
He says they start at 6 am on Election Day and many work 16 hours before they can put the election to bed, make sure all the ballots are secured and correctly accounted for and that no one has had a chance to fiddle with the results.
