Foreclosed Voters

There are over a million voters who have lost their homes over the last two years, and most of them have not changed their voting address.  This means that when they show up at the polls, they can be turned away because they aren't registered for that site.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of these voters are Democrats.

An article by The New York Times today outlined the problems faced by these foreclosed voters.  According to Rosemary Rodriguez from the Federal Election Assistance Commission, the biggest fear is that "many of these voters will stay home or that poll workers will give misinformation".  For example, one voter who had his home foreclosed had not updated his voter registration address, because he did not know it was required.  Luckily, the Democratic Party is on top of things, and is working with the Federal Election Assistance Commission to inform foreclosed voters of the process to update their registration.  As it happens, the highest numbers of foreclosures happened in swing states (Ohio, Colorado, Florida, and Michigan).  And the majority of foreclosures happened to black or low-income voters, who tend to be Democrats. 

And so, this issue gains a political dimension.  Many in the Democratic Party are worried that the Republicans will use foreclosure lists to remove voters from the rolls.  Hey, remember when it was revealed that McCain's Michigan campaign headquarters was located in a building owned by the foreclosure specialists Trott and Trott?  And that the founder of Trott and Trott had raised up to $250,000 for McCain?  Apparently, so does Obama.  His campaign recently filed a lawsuit in federal court, hoping to stop the Michigan Republican Party from using foreclosure lists to single out and challenge voters.  Of course, the Republican Party denied planning to do this, but I do hope you'll excuse me if I call them out on this - LIES!!  I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!!!  Because, according to an article from The Michigan Messenger from September 10, the party chairman James Carabelli told a reporter from The Michigan Messenger that, "We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren't voting from those addresses".  HA! Gotcha!  Oh, but a correction as to why they would be checking foreclosure lists: according to William Nowling, spokesman for the Michigan Republic Party, "Our voter integrity efforts are solely designed to fight voter fraud perpetrated by the Democrats".  Uh huh, sure.  Somehow, I don't believe it.  Do you?