Ottawa County, MI (WGHN) – A Park Township woman is facing charges of absentee ballot tampering involving two ballots submitted during the August 4th primary election.
Park Township election officials discovered the issue while reviewing absentee ballot envelopes submitted by a parent for her two adult children. Officials found that the signatures on the envelopes did not match the signatures in the voters’ records. They also noticed similarities to the parent’s own signature.
The ballots were set aside and the case was referred to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office. Following an investigation, the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office authorized criminal charges.
Both ballots were rejected by the Park Township Clerk’s Office and were not counted.
“Our election staff followed the established procedures, recognized that something was not right and acted immediately,” said Park Township Clerk Joan Zeerip. “The safeguards surrounding absentee voting exist to ensure that every ballot is cast by the voter to whom it was issued.”
Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck said the case illustrates both the strength of the absentee ballot verification process and the importance of cooperation among local election officials and law enforcement. He added that enforcing absentee ballot laws also protects the rights of the individual voters involved.
“Every voter has the right to make their own choices and the responsibility to personally certify their ballot by signing the return envelope,” Roebuck said. “Your vote is your voice, and it belongs to you alone. Michigan law provides a proper process when a voter needs assistance, but no one, including a family member, can make the voter’s choices or sign the voter’s name. If you are considering completing or signing another person’s ballot, don’t. It is a serious violation of election law and will be referred to law enforcement for investigation and potential prosecution.”
The defendant waived her right to a preliminary examination September 22nd. The case was then bound over to Ottawa County Circuit Court.
An arraignment is scheduled for October 26th.
Election officials remind voters who need help with an absentee ballot to contact their local clerk. Anyone assisting a voter must follow Michigan law and cannot make voting choices for the voter or sign the voter’s name.
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