Lose Your Home; Lose Your Right to Vote?
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October 3, 2008
Detroit, MI - With just over a month to go before the election, nagging concerns remain in Michigan and some other states that not all eligible voters who want to cast ballots will be able to do so.
Tierney Eaton, coordinator of the Michigan Election Coalition, cites rumors that lists of foreclosed homeowners are being compiled for the purpose of challenging their residency at the polls. She calls the lists "meaningless," and says her organization is asking the state's top election official to set the record straight.
"Michigan law clearly does not allow voters to be challenged on election day based exclusively on some type of foreclosure list. We're asking Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land to clear up any confusion that has recently erupted around this. We would like her to issue a directive, for voters to know that these lists cannot be used to turn them away on Election Day."
Under state law, vote challengers have to know and/or have evidence that a voter isn't registered or qualified to cast a ballot. State elections director Chris Thomas says foreclosure doesn't qualify as a reason to challenge.
Eaton says all eligible Michigan residents have a fundamental right to vote, and economic status is not an eligibility standard.
"At the heart of our democracy is the idea that we don't exclude people from participating based on financial circumstances. We don't challenge them, and we don't deny those citizens the right to vote. It would go against our ideals to do so on Election Day."
Several voting rights groups are calling on the Michigan Senate to pass a bill, already approved by the House, that specifically prohibits foreclosure as a reason to challenge a voter.
Nonpartisan information about voting rights by state is available online on the Election Protection Web site, at www.866ourvote.org.