The moment many are waiting for: Election day

By Charles Sercombe
After a long election season, it’s time now for voters to head to the polls next Tuesday, Nov. 3.
A number of political observers are saying that this election could determine which direction this country will go for decades to come.
In other words, will this be the end of the MAGA, pro-Trump era, or will Trump supporters prevail?
Hamtramck voters will become a part of this likely historical election in just a few days.
For those registered to receive an absentee ballot, you should have it by now, since they went out on Sept. 29. At this point, it is advised that you drop off your absentee ballot in person, at city hall or in the city hall drop box, because it’s unlikely the post office will deliver your ballot on time to be included in the election tally.
Early in-person voting at city hall continues through Nov. 1, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day through Sunday.
If you are not registered to vote yet, and qualify to do so, you can sign up on election day and still cast a ballot then, too.
This election has already stirred controversy, with the conflicting messages from President Trump’s administration on whether armed federal agents will be monitoring voting precincts.
Federal law prohibits armed federal agents from entering polling locations, but the Trump administration has regularly been testing the various boundaries of federal law for the past two years.
ICE authorities say their agents won’t be at polling locations unless they are actively pursuing a suspect. But there are now various media outlets reporting that ICE will, indeed, be at polling locations throughout the country.
For many in Hamtramck, which has a large immigrant population, the presence of ICE agents could be intimidating, and scare off some from showing up to vote.
None of Hamtramck’s elected officials, who are all Muslim and also immigrants, have spoken out about this.
Also, and once again, federal election monitors are being sent to Hamtramck, the Trump administration has announced. But federal monitors at Hamtramck elections are nothing new. They were here for the August primary, and they have been here on a number of previous elections.
City Clerk Sami Elhady says he has not received any instructions from county or state elections officials about possible federal interference.
Police Chief Hussein Farhat he does not expect federal interference, nor has he been contacted over the matter.
“As of today, the Hamtramck Police Department has not received any information indicating that federal authorities plan to deploy armed law enforcement officers or agents to polling locations in Hamtramck,” Farhat said.
“The department remains committed to protecting public safety, respecting the rights of voters, and ensuring that elections are conducted in accordance with applicable law. We will continue to work with the appropriate authorities as necessary to support a safe and orderly election.”
In Hamtramck, also included on the ballot are three candidates seeking a seat on the Hamtramck Public School Board of Education. They are all guaranteed to win since there are three seats up for grabs, and they are the only three candidates.
Also, Hamtramck 31st District Court Judge Alexis Krot is running unopposed for another six-year term.
As for what President Trump will do if Democrats win a majority in Congress, as a number of political pundits and analysts predict, it has been reported that he will only accept the election results if he deems the election was “honest.”
Some political observers have raised alarms that it is likely Trump, a Republican, will intervene in the election results if Democrats take control of Congress and possibly call for the nullification of the election results, or even invoke martial law.
Trump’s Department of Justice has already filed a lawsuit to block election results if the Alaska Democratic candidate running for Congress is elected.
The DOJ is claiming that, if the Democratic candidate wins, it’s because two Independent and Republican candidates on the ballot share the same last name, which the DOJ says will confuse Alaskan voters.
It’s been pointed out that the DOJ’s claim is flawed, since the Republican candidate is clearly marked on the ballot as being the incumbent and a Republican.
But it underscores the concerns of many that the Trump administration will make a number of questionable accusations if the Democrats take control of congress.
Michigan’s election officials say they will challenge any attempt to overturn election results by the Trump administration.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is being termed out at the end of this year, has said that “Michigan elections are safe and secure — any suggestion otherwise is designed to undermine our voters’ basic rights.”
Posted Oct. 30, 2026