The state GOP is appealing a July 20007 decision by judge David Viviano of Macomb county Circuit Court that lets Clerk Carmella Sabaugh send out absentee voter applications to all residents age 60 and older who do not receive them from their local community.

   Doster contends the appeals court must rule soon because, based on past experience, a preliminary injunction request will fail.

   “Absent a timely decision from this curt on the merits of this case, these unlawful mailings will not be prevented by means of preliminary injunction,” the motion says.

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   Viviano said in his ruling that although the Michigan Election Code did not give Sabaugh the authority to mail the ballots in a 2006 election, the county Board of Commissioners’ permission did in September 2006. That election was the first time Sabaugh had mailed the applications in an effort to increase voter turnout.

   The county board gave approval Jan. 24 for this year’s elections, also the Aug. 5 primary and Nov. 4 general election.

   The GOP argues that Sabaugh must follow the Election Code, which doesn’t allow it but also doesn’t prevent it.

   The GOP accused Sabaugh of trying to gain unfair clout for the county. Not every county in Michigan can afford the thousands of dollars to mail the applications. Macomb officials have allocated $60,000 to mail the ballots this year.

   “If this court were to allow Macomb County to exercise its financial clout to skew the election process, the residents of Michigan’s poorer counties would be severely disadvantaged,” the GOP argues, “since not all of Michigan’s counties could afford to mail unsolicited absent voter ballot applications or to conduct any other activity prohibited by the Michigan Election Code.”

   But Sabaugh contends she is merely seeking to advance the Democratic process.

   ”I am fighting to give all seniors an equal opportunity to get an absent voter application form, no matter where they live or their party affiliation,” she said in a written statement.

   “It seems like they (Republicans) are trying to make it harder to vote,” she told The Macomb Daily. “I don’t see how this hurts the Republican Party. I could see if it was Detroit,” where seniors traditionally vote more Democratic.

   Sabaugh said in the Jan. 15 presidential primary, turnout was down partially because the ballot applications were not mailed.

   Local communities already send applications to people who have requested them. Meanwhile, Sabaugh’s mailing is more extensive because all seniors over 60 receive them.

   Those who receive an application must complete it and return it to receive a ballot by mail.

   Doster said Sabaugh also is trying to gain political exposure for herself by mailing the applications. He said Sabaugh in the past only mailed the applications for an election in which she was running.