What's a Metro Detroit election without an allegation of mischief?
Niraj Warikoo of the Detroit Free Press reports that the Michigan Bureau of Elections is investigating possible abuse in Dearborn Heights involving hundreds of absentee ballot applications.
The agency is following up on a complaint from the city clerk, and a finding of fraud could lead to criminal charges, the Freep reports.
The Freep reports:
In a letter Friday, Sally Williams, a director with the Michigan Bureau of Elections, said that based on information the state has received, “it appears clear that hundreds of AV (absent voter) ballot requests have been illegally handled, solicited from voters and submitted to the clerk’s office by a small number of individuals. The investigation of these issues is ongoing and may result in criminal charges against those involved.”
City Clerk Walt Prusiewicz wrote in a July 28 letter that about 250 absentee ballot applications were dropped off at his office in two separate batches by people who identified linked to the campaign of state Rep. Dave Knezek, who is running for state Senate, the Freep writes.
Knezek said his campaign never solicited voters to vote by absentee ballot.
