Group's voter registration mailing to deceased woman causes concern in Dexter Township
A Washington, D.C.,-based group raised suspicions this past week for mailing voter registration materials to a deceased Washtenaw County resident.
Dexter Township Clerk Harley Rider said a concerned resident reached out to his office about the incident. With a little investigation, they were able to figure out the mailing came from a nonprofit group called the Voter Participation Center.
"When I first got it, it sounded suspicious," Rider said. "But after looking into it, it doesn't appear to be a case where they're purposely trying to register dead people to vote. They're just not careful in collecting their data. I don't see it as intentional fraud."
A spokesperson for the Voter Participation Center said the group regretted the incident, but added that it cannot pre-screen individuals on its mailing lists, given that it sends out literally hundreds of thousands of registration packets annually. The spokesperson said the center gets its mailing lists from a national commercial vendor and everything it does is within the law.
The mailing showed up at the home of Deb and Henry Alvarez. But it was addressed to another person — Henry Alvarez's deceased wife, Josee.
"She never lived at this address and she's been dead 16 years, and it was asking her to register to vote," Deb Alvarez said. "This is how voter fraud happens."
Henry Alvarez called the mailing disturbing.
"It just doesn't seem appropriate that they're sending out that sort of material to register people who are no longer alive," he said. "I don't know who they are. I'm just suspicious of the mailing. I really think sending out this kind of material to register someone who is deceased, and it's not even an address they've ever lived at, should be off limits."
According to the Voter Participation Center's web site, it's a nonpartisan group dedicated to increasing participation of unmarried women — including women who are single, widowed, divorced or separated — and other historically underrepresented groups in democracy.
"From what I can tell from the Secretary of State's Office, it is a legitimate organization," Rider said. "They just get a variety of mailing lists and send out solicitations. But the person they sent it to here has been dead for 16 years."
Rider said it seems the group is acquiring mailing lists of people who aren't registered to vote and then doing "sloppy crosschecking" before mailing out registration materials.
Even a quick Google search for Josee Alvarez would have turned up the fact that she's deceased and that there's a memorial fund established in her name.
Rider said he was concerned that somebody could have filled out the voter registration form and mailed it in and then tried to vote on Election Day.
Even if something like that happened, Rider said, the person still would have to show ID at the polls, so it would have been difficult to commit voter fraud.
"In Dexter Township, I know my poll workers are very diligent on that," Rider said. "I can't vouch for how it would be in the more urban, busier districts. Certainly there's a chance it could sneak by. On a busy election day, things could sneak through the cracks."
A report by the Pew Center on the States this year found more than 1.8 million dead people are registered to vote in the U.S. and 24 million registrations are invalid or inaccurate.
Experts say there's little evidence that has led to widespread voter fraud, but it has raised concerns that the system is vulnerable.
Rider said fortunately Michigan is "probably lightyears ahead of other places" in the country when it comes to eliminating the possibility of voter fraud.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
snark12
Sun, Jun 24, 2012 : 11:11 p.m.
It is statistically clear that anything that lowers voter participation is generally good for the Repubs, and vice-versa. If as much as 2/3rds of the voting age population went to the polls, the GOP would lose every presidential election.
Chase Ingersoll
Sun, Jun 24, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
Clownfish: In November of 1992, I was there in the basement locker are of the Illinois College of Law as law students from the Hyde Park area of Chicago and all members of the Black Law Student Association, laugh about how they had on that day in Champaign, Illinois voted in person even while they had voted via absentee ballot back at their home addresses in Chicago. 20 years later, these admitted vote fraud felons who violated my civil rights and those of everyone who cast a single lawful vote are in positions of influence all over the country and especially in urban voting areas and Washington DC. And having never been held accountable they have done nothing but perpetuate this culture of corruption. Chase Ingersoll
Chase Ingersoll
Sun, Jun 24, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.
Ryan: I don't know how you can post this article and not specifically draw the links from the originator of the letter to Acorn, George Soros, the SEIU and various liberal advocacy groups whom the directors of the Voter Participation Center list in their bios on their website. Further, all of these groups have been involved in voter registration FRAUD. http://www.voterparticipation.org/about-us/staff-bios/ What this group is doing is sending out letters that appear to originate from State Board of Elections: http://disruptthenarrative.com/2012/06/16/is-this-voter-fraud-in-the-making/ Chase Ingersoll
Kara H
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 3:16 p.m.
We still get the voter registration cards for the previous owners of our house mailed to us by the township (15 years later). It's sloppy record-keeping but it's not fraud. This story of a piece of junk mail from a mass mailing going to a deceased individual is even less likely to result in fraud (she, um, can't actually register being dead and all). Sheesh.
Jrileyhoff
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
I concede that dead women are underrepresented in our democracy.
clownfish
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 12:53 p.m.
It is so easy to get a fake ID, these laws do nothing but inhibit participation in elections, with the root idea being to limit the voting of minorities, students and the poor. Period. http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Fake-ID http://www.newidcards.com/getafakeid.htm http://ineedfakeid.com/
clownfish
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 12:48 p.m.
http://www.truthaboutfraud.org/ Voter fraud does occur, but at such low rates as to be statistically insignificant. It's funny to watch our more conservative friends repeatedly ask for and receive More government regulation that limits citizen participation, costs states millions and does almost nothing to prevent voter fraud. Election fraud, by poll workers and the manufacturers of polling equipment is a far greater threat, and more real, than this alleged "dead people voting". Indiana has Voter ID, but it did not prevent the Republican Sec of State from voting illegally, and being convicted for it. But... Over four years, Indiana's strict voter ID law cost taxpayers more than $10 million just to issue new IDs. Estimates by other states projected additional implementation costs of up to $25.2 million in North Carolina over three years, $16.9 million in Missouri over three years. ---Let's look at the facts. The Justice Department under George W. Bush launched a massive, five-year investigation into voter fraud that resulted in a paltry 86 convictions across the entire country. Similarly, a three-year study conducted by Professor Lori Minnite of Barnard College showed that not only is voter fraud a very rare phenomenon, but the vast majority of cases involved people who were either ineligible to vote at all or had voted more than once in an election. Voter ID laws, which only target voter impersonation, would not have done anything to prevent these instances of fraud.- Baltimore Sun a 2005 statewide study in Ohio found four instances of ineligible persons voting or attempting to vote in 2002 and 2004, out of 9 million votes cast. An investigation of fraud allegations in Wisconsin in 2004 led to the prosecution of 0.0007 percent of voters. From 2002 to 2005, the Justice Department found, only five people were convicted for voting multiple times.
Chase Ingersoll
Sun, Jun 24, 2012 : 12:41 p.m.
http://disruptthenarrative.com/2012/06/16/is-this-voter-fraud-in-the-making/
Alan Goldsmith
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 11:50 a.m.
Since Ann Arbor Dot Com's crack reporting team seems to be so focused on election 'fraud' (or in this case a mass bulk mailing...) you might want to click on a real Ann Arbor election fraud story with some investigative reporting: http://www.a2politico.com/2012/06/evidence-surfaces-that-ward-1-council-candidate-committed-election-fraud-in-2010/
DennisP
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 8:28 a.m.
They sent a registration form to my dog just last week. I'll admit she's unmarried and underrepresented at the polls but she's nowhere near 18 calendar years old. She doesn't really care so long as she gets her daily Milk Bone and some pats on the head. I did ask her if she preferred Obama or Romney. She went out and took two dumps. Sort of how I feel too...
hmsp
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 1:55 a.m.
Does anyone seriously think that voter registration drives could ever come close to having 1% of the effect on our election process that the Supreme Court's Citizens United, "Billionaires Rule The World," verdict has had? Never in the history of our nation has there been such a move of Judicial Activism, completely re-writing judicial precedents. Everyone knows that it is a whole new ball game now, where money ("Free Speech," according to Newspeak) rules. But the conservatives can't get enough, and can't sleep nights worrying that people who don't happen to have drivers' licenses (in this trickle-down economy, cars are an unrealistic fantasy for many!) might still, somehow, be able to vote. Give me a break.
clownfish
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 12:51 p.m.
OLDTIMER, and IF she voted twice she would face penalties of up to 5 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Do you think she would find it worth it?
OLDTIMER3
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 11:50 a.m.
They don't need a drivers license to get a state pictured ID. I know of a case where a girl got married 25 tears ago and moved to a different address where she registered to vote and has voted. But her maiden name still shows up as being a registered vote under her maiden name. So without picture Id she could probably get away with voting twice.It was reorted to them several times to remove her name but as far as I know it is still on the list of voters.
Jake C
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 1 a.m.
"but I think that we have some evidence that large-scale voter registration efforts have resulted in some pretty suspicious voters." I'd love to see that evidence, because from what I've seen, voter fraud is so small as to be statistically nonexistent. Does voter *registration* fraud occur? Yes, but also not in massive numbers. And it's usually due to underpaid temp workers who aren't making their registration quotas around election time, and submit a few false registration sheets with phony info. Most of those get deleted by the registration organization, and most of the remaining ones get deleted by the government before making it onto the voter rolls. And the rest never show up to vote. It's pretty much a non-issue. Especially compared with all the other issues related to campaign finance going on today.
hmsp
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 12:49 a.m.
@ vivian, re: "if dead people are being registered as a result of nationwide mailings... don't we have a potential problem on our hands?" Not just a potential problem, but a very real one! But that is IF... dead people are being registered as a result of nationwide mailings... which is not what this story is about. This story is about someone receiving junk mail and flipping out, and that is all. The junk mail this party received would in no way help him/her to register fraudulently, it simply provides information, and forms that could be filled out. So, vivian, what is your opinion about the "threat" posed to democracy by voter registration drives, which is what this was? Do you have any information that would suggest that this voter registration drive somehow facilitates voter fraud? If so, please explain, and elaborate. "it seems to be generally conceded that voter fraud does occur regularly." Like shoplifting, speeding, and jaywalking, yes, these things do occur regularly. Do you have any reason to think that there is a concerted drive to register fraudulent voters? If so, do you have any reason to believe that this concerted drive counterbalances the aggressive anti-voting drives that the far right promotes so successfully? If the far right is so concerned with the problem, perhaps they will move to institute compulsory voting. One can always cast a blank ballot if one prefers to opt out, but at least it reduces the possibility of disenfranchisement, and fraudulent voting. It is a fact of life that most laws favor the 1% who write them. And laws that limit and restrict voting of course favor this same 1%. Any moves to tighten access to the voting booth should be viewed with deep suspicion, and any scare-tactic cries to enact laws for fear of "mass voter fraud" should be viewed with deep suspicion as well. Do you disagree?
vivian
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 2:46 a.m.
Well, I didn't think (or say) that it was a threat to democracy, so that part of our exchange reflects some misunderstanding. I don't think that compulsory voting is a good idea, and I don't know anyone who does--do you? I think that the point you and I may truly have some disagreement on is whether or not requiring proof of someone's citizenship before he or she can cast a ballot in US elections is wrong. If you think it is, I would be interested in hearing your reasons, and I mean that sincerely.
John Q
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 10:28 p.m.
This makes you wonder about the logic of the people who can think this would lead to voter fraud. Group mails out registration form to dead person. Then what? If someone was inclined to falsely register a dead person to vote, they wouldn't need a form from some group in Washington DC to try that. The group itself has no idea what happens to the forms once they reach the intended recipient. Sounds like the black helicopter crowd latched onto this story. Too bad AA.com couldn't be bothered to think this through and see what a non-story is presented here.
Kara H
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 4:01 p.m.
@vivian-- can you cite your evidence that "voter fraud does occur regularly?" My recollection of the actual outcome of investigations shows the numbers in the 1s and 2s. Regardless, this story has nothing to do with voter fraud and instead seems to implicate the direct mail industry to bad mailing list practices.
vivian
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 11:44 p.m.
I'm not one of the black helicopter crowd, but I've read some analyses of the voting in the last several election cycles, and it seems to be generally conceded that voter fraud does occur regularly. Do you have reason to believe that it doesn't? Of course you're quite right that receipt of a form from someone in DC wouldn't be necessary if someone were inclined to register a dead voter, but I think that we have some evidence that large-scale voter registration efforts have resulted in some pretty suspicious voters. If that's combined with rejection of the requirement that voters show photo IDs, it does seem like a bit of an invitation. Do you really think that all political organizations are so honest and upright that such things don't go on?
David Frye
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 9:42 p.m.
From the story, it seems that the proper response would be: "This is why voter fraud never happens." A mass mailing goes to a non-existent person, is put in the trash. "Voter fraud" -- the biggest non-problem in the US today.
Laura Jones
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 9:42 p.m.
Massive over reaction to junk mail.
hmsp
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 9:06 p.m.
Seriously, aa.com, What were you thinking? Which one of you wrote that headline? This was in no way an "attempt to get deceased woman registered to vote." It was a mass mailing, and like any mass mailing, an amazingly large percent of them will be duds — I worked for a small, specialty-outdoor business here in town back in the 80s, and every month we would receive a packet from the post office consisting of hundreds of undeliverable or refused monthly newsletters. It's just a fact of life in the biz. As for, "This is how voter fraud happens," will someone explain the process? Sounds fascinating. I'm all ears.
OLDTIMER3
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 11:40 a.m.
And how much money did you have to pay for the returned adds or letters. I know for a fact that undeliverable mail comes back with a charge for it. A wooman dead for 16 years with a memorial fund in place should have been easy to detect. With modern technology there are several people who would make fake ID'S to acompany the registration. The fake ID'S happen all the time.
xmo
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.
Just another example of how President Obama with his ACORN followers and other organizations are trying to get votes from people who should not be voting! Even though the problem is "Not Wide Spread" a few thousand votes in a few states could be the difference. Remember How ALGORE lost Florida and the election because not enough dead people or non-citizens voted!
clownfish
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
ACORN is gone. How are they still influencing elections? Do you have any proof that ACORN was involved in actual voter fraud? Do you have any evidence that "thousands" of votes are being cast illegally? Any real evidence or proof to back up this world view? Again, IF your facts were accurate you would have a point, but they are not accurate. Remember, the same people that are telling you to be worried about voter fraud told you to be scared of Iraqi wmd's, that inflation would be 10% in 2012, that gas would be $5/gal this month,(you told us that in the spring of 2012!), that Obama would outlaw guns and that unemployment would be 15% in 2012. Myth and propaganda is no way to govern.
a2citizen
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 2:12 a.m.
No goober, this one would be Snyder's fault.
Goober
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 10:51 p.m.
Can we blame Bush? Seems to be the trend these days when something goes wrong or an issue is encountered. If the dead come back, they will be able to vote. I wonder what political party zombies belong to?
snark12
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 9:28 p.m.
Gore lost Florida because too many people mistakenly voted for Pat Buchannon or intentionally voted for Ralph Nader.
bedrog
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 8:48 p.m.
gee...from all your assorted posts i'm starting to get the impression you don't like Obama...and liberals generally. bu maybe i'm mistaken
hmsp
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 8:03 p.m.
Amazing! Hold the Presses!! Local Residents Receive Junk Mail! Militia Alerted!! (Yawn...)
Dan Schoof
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 7:58 p.m.
Yes, we need photo id laws and once people have these photo ID's, they can flash them when they go worship (we need to prevent worship fraud) and pull them out when they buy a newspaper (we need to prevent freedom of press fraud), and submit them for verification before they can say only tax cuts for the wealthy will solve the deficit problem (we need to prevent speech fraud).
leaguebus
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 7:51 p.m.
The Republikans need to get right on this! They need to use this as a reason to kick a few hundred thousand minority voters off the roles as the have done in Florida and several other states
OLDTIMER3
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 11:34 a.m.
No it is to keep dead people from voting and non citizens from voting.
a2citizen
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 2:11 a.m.
Historically, it has been demokrats that have profited from voter fraud.
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.
That's it...push the hot buttons A A Dot Com.
Swimmer
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 7:22 p.m.
I got one too, and I'm not a citizen, so not eligble to vote. But I fail to see how it could increase fraudulent voter registration. It was just a voter registration application form.
justcurious
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 7:18 p.m.
Much ado over nothing.
Stephen Landes
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 7:17 p.m.
Of course our US Attorney General doesn't want people to be required to present a photo ID in order to vote. We rely on our Secretary of State and vigilant county clerks to preserve our voter roles and assure that only citizens are allowed to vote.
vivian
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 7:14 p.m.
Any information about the group that sent the mailing? I located a website for VPC and read a bit about it; maybe the reporter could give readers a little background? Reassurances about the unlikelihood of voter fraud here in Michigan, where voters have to show a photo ID, are great, but if dead people are being registered as a result of nationwide mailings from an organization based in DC and voter identification isn't required (as in 19 states) or is pretty lax (as in another 16), don't we have a potential problem on our hands?
Epengar
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 4:34 p.m.
Voted down, because "dead people are being registered" is not what's happening here. The same voter registration form that these people got on the mail is available for free from any city/county clerk's office, and is downloadable from their websites. This is a non-event.
OLDTIMER3
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 11:31 a.m.
Maybe A2citizen is dead and wants to vote.
vivian
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 11:28 a.m.
Actually, I was asking about your point of view rather than your reasons for voting, A2citizen, and I'm still interested in hearing that, if you'd be willing to say something about it.
a2citizen
Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 2:10 a.m.
No. My reasons for voting the way I do are none of your business.
vivian
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 10:26 p.m.
Would those of you who are voting my comment down mind telling me why you feel that way? I'd like to understand your point of view. Thanks!
bunnyabbot
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 7:12 p.m.
what is also scary is there are groups out there that don't think it good that IDs are checked at the polls and that it keeps the poor from voting and want that requirement removed. Nevermind that it keeps the dead from voting as well.
Sparty
Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 9:23 p.m.
But not the brain dead.