FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

September 12, 2008

CONTACT:

Carmella Sabaugh 586-469-7939

You do not have to own property in order to vote, at least since 1850

Macomb County Clerk / Register of Deeds Carmella Sabaugh’s office received several phone calls from concerned citizens yesterday after the Republican Party disavowed a Web site article claiming the GOP will challenge voters whose homes have been foreclosed, potentially preventing some citizens from voting. (See “GOP denies Web report on vote blocking,” Macomb Daily, 9/11/08; “Foreclosures won’t hinder voters”, Detroit News, 9/12/08; “GOP won't use foreclosure list to block voters,” Detroit Free Press, 9/12/08, “Macomb County GOP leader denies plan to block votes,” Lansing State Journal, 9/12/08.)

“The lists are public and if the alleged GOP plan is for real a county register of deeds would have no authority to stop Republicans from using foreclosure lists to challenge voters at the polls,” said Sabaugh. “Citizens whose homes are foreclosed still have the right to vote!”

Citizens have not had to own property to be able to vote since 1850. If the alleged plan is true, this would not be the first time the GOP tried to suppress votes. In a recent lawsuit argued by the Republican Party’s lawyer, the GOP successfully stopped clerks from mass mailing absent voter application forms to all senior citizens within a city or township. Thanks to the GOP this will be the first presidential election many Michigan seniors will not automatically receive absent voter application forms.

But citizens whose homes were foreclosed still have the right to vote! A registered voter who moves from one precinct to another within the same city or township may vote one last time in the precinct where registered. A registered voter who moves from one Michigan city or township to another can vote one last time in the precinct where registered if the move was made within 60 days of the election.

The deadline for an unregistered voter to register and be able to vote in the Presidential Election is October 6 and the registration form and AV application are on my web site.

“I hope all Macomb County citizens will exercise their right to vote regardless of party affiliation or where in the state a person lives,” said Sabaugh.

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