OAKLAND COUNTY (WXYZ) — Tampering with the election? Or just a big mistake?
That’s what some residents of Bloomfield Township are wondering today after receiving unsolicited applications from a political nonprofit with a pre-addressed envelope, that if used wouldn’t actually send the application to their township clerk.
These mailers are being sent to Bloomfield Township residents from a group called Common Sense Voters of America. They include a pre-addressed envelopes and a big problem – the wrong address.
“This is something that causes a dilemma. It causes angst with the voters,” says Bloomfield Township Clerk Jan Roncelli. Her office is on Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Township.
But the applications sent out by the third-party nonprofit, are pre-addressed to a location on McDonald in Port Hope, Michigan., which is 90 miles away!
“What happens is my voters get this. They don’t pay attention to the return address, then their application, instead of going to me, goes to Port Hope Michigan,” Roncelli said.
Which means a big delay in receiving an absentee ballot for the voter, and a big problem for Roncelli to solve.
“With the number of people voting absentee for this election, it’s massive,” she said.
So is this an attempt to prevent people from receiving a ballot? Or just a big mistake on the part of this nonprofit?
7 Action News called Ohio attorney Christopher Finney who registered the group Common Sense Voters of America back in June. We received this response from a spokesman:
My client has authorized me to make the following statement to you:
- The error in the address was an inadvertent vendor error.
- We were not aware of it until you brought it to our attention, and we appreciate the information.
- The matter is being promptly corrected by the vendor.
The Secretary of State’s office says it is legal for third-party groups to mail unsolicited applications for ballots, but they don’t always double check their info.
“I don’t think it’s anything shady, but obviously their data is coming from the wrong data base,” Roncelli said.
Bloomfield Township in Oakland County is one of three Bloomfield Townships in Michigan. There’s another in Huron County and another in Missaukee County.
There are many duplicate municipalities in Michigan for example 3 Clinton townships including the one in Macomb County.
There’s whopping 7 Lake Townships, in 7 different Michigan counties.
Which makes you wonder, how many other township residents in the state is this happening to?
“I haven’t had time to think about it hahaha I just say when are they gonna get this resolved with us, cause this isn’t the first time,” says Roncelli.
It’s happened to Bloomfield Township residents 3 times since 2016, with voter application ballots being sent by other political groups.
Make sure you double check any information sent to you by a 3rd party and when in doubt, call your local clerk's office.ee
