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What drove turnout in St. Joseph County’s August primary?
County records show 12,200 ballots were cast in Tuesday’s primary election. By comparison, 13,544 ballots were cast during the August 2024 primary, when turnout reached about 27%, and 13,472 ballots were cast during the August 2020 primary, which saw roughly 29% turnout. This year’s election saw 1,344 fewer ballots cast than in 2024 — a decrease of about 9.9%.
As of August 5, St. Joseph County had 49,226 registered voters, putting overall turnout for Tuesday’s primary at approximately 25%.
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Watershed Voice is an independent, nonprofit civic news magazine based in Three Rivers, Michigan. We seek to highlight solutions to your pressing concerns in an effort to make our community a better place.
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Huss Project’s Back to School Celebration returns Saturday with free backpacks, community resources
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Huss Project, 1008 Eighth St. in Three Rivers, alongside the Huss Project Farmers Market and Second Saturday Market Art Market.
School-aged children accompanied by an adult caregiver can receive a free backpack filled with school supplies while supplies last. Throughout the day, local organizations will offer information about community services and host kid-friendly activities as part of the event’s annual Community Carnival.
Listen: Good Grief. Podcast, Episode 4
In the fourth episode of the Good Grief. Podcast, Watershed Voice’s Aundrea Sayrie examines one of the biggest misconceptions about grief – “[it] only happens when someone dies.”
“As I reflected I realized something that on one hand, the level of grief I experienced losing my mom was unlike anything I had ever experienced. But on the other, it was quietly familiar.
“Not in its intensity. But in its depth. In its ache. I began to recognize grief at the edge of nearly every significant loss I’d experienced since childhood. I simply hadn’t known to call it grief.”
2026 Primary Election results part 2: El-Sayed wins Democratic Senate nomination, incumbent Steve Carra advances
El-Sayed narrowly won the Democratic nomination, receiving 48.48% of the vote (740,950 votes), while Stevens received 47.51% (726,057 votes). Former candidate Mallory McMorrow, who withdrew from the race in early July, still received more than 50,000 votes. While some votes are still being counted across the state, the Associated Press has called the race for El-Sayed.
2026 Primary Election results: Haigh, Hoeppner advance in Three Rivers second district commissioner race
In the Three Rivers City Commission Second District primary, Josh Hoeppner received the most votes, receiving 43.29% of the vote (410 votes). Incumbent Steven Haigh finished second, with 33.79% of the vote (320 votes). The two advance to November’s general election, where they will face-off head-to-head.
Three Rivers Commission begins Habitat for Humanity project, receives update on ‘Biggby lot’
City Attorney TJ Reed provided commissioners with an update on the long-running enforcement case involving the parking lot at 209 U.S. 131, commonly known as “the Biggby lot.”
Reed said the process could take at least six months because the city’s enforcement options must proceed through the courts.
Polls open for Michigan’s primary election, a final reminder
Primary Election Day has arrived in Michigan with voters across St. Joseph, Cass, and Kalamazoo counties heading to the polls Tuesday to choose party nominees for statewide office, narrow down local races ahead of the November general election, and for some, decide on millages.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Any voter in line by 8 p.m. is entitled to cast a ballot.
