Voter Denied Ballot in Michigan Township Wins $20K Compensation

A woman who registered to vote online in 2022 but was denied access to her polling station was granted a $20,000 settlement in her case against a community in western Michigan, according to the lady’s attorneys on Monday.

After making numerous trips to her Muskegon County polling site, Ashleigh Smith was informed that she would not receive a ballot on November 8, 2022 because her address was not appearing in an electronic voter roster.

By evening, Smith was told by Holton Township Clerk Jill Colwell-Coburn that “she was sorry but that there was nothing more she could do,” according to the lawsuit.

Smith stated she received a voter registration receipt and a sticker to put on her driver’s license to show her new address.

It would have given local officials several days to attempt to resolve the issue if Smith had been granted a provisional ballot. As per attorney Mark Brewer, the municipality also had the option to grant her a fresh registration on the spot.

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Brewer stated, “No voter should ever have to leave a polling place without casting a ballot,” pointing out recent modifications to Michigan election law. It’s a compliment to them that they realized their actions were unacceptable. The matter was resolved really swiftly.”

In a court filing from March, attorney Bogomir Rajsic III stated that they “acted in good faith and with a reasonable belief that their actions were in compliance with all applicable statutory and common law.”

Reference

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