LANSING – The Michigan House of Representatives today passed a plan introduced by State Representative Robert Dean (D-Grand Rapids) that protects the right to vote for residents who have received a foreclosure notice. The plan now heads to the Senate.
"Voting is a right that no citizen should be denied – no matter their age, sex, race, religion or financial status," Dean said. "There have been some rumors floating around that residents who have received a foreclosure notice will not be eligible to vote in the November election. That is simply not true. This plan says in no uncertain terms that a foreclosure notice is not valid grounds to challenge a voter's ballot."
Political parties and other organizations often send challengers to the polls to oversee election procedure, protect the rights of voters and prevent election fraud. Dean's plan will prohibit a challenger from making a challenge based solely on a voter having received a foreclosure notice.
The Michigan Messenger has reported that the chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County is planning to use a list of foreclosed homes to block people from voting in the upcoming election. However, a foreclosure notice is not evidence that a voter no longer meets residence requirements for voting.
"In these difficult economic times, many of our working families are facing the threat of losing their home to foreclosure," Dean said. "I will not let their right to vote be denied. We must