Michigan attorney general charges 7 over double voting in Macomb Co.Pontiac mom charged with child abuse after 3 kids found living alone in squalorNews Sports Autos Business Michigan Life + Home Entertainment Opinion Obituaries Subscribe MACOMB COUNTYMichigan attorney general charges 7 over double voting in Macomb County Craig MaugerThe Detroit NewsView Comments Detroit — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel leveled criminal charges Friday against seven individuals who were allegedly involved in a flurry of double voting in the August primary election in St. Clair Shores.Nessel's office alleges that four people voted twice — once in person on Election Day and once through an absentee ballot — and three assistant municipal clerks allowed the double voting to occur, "significantly" breaking from the rules."There are procedures in place to ensure that this does not happen, and that's why it so rarely does," Nessel said during a press conference in Detroit. "It really took a perfect storm to come together to allow these four individuals to double vote, which included voters who were willing to vote twice, the completion of affidavits that were false, poll workers who did not turn them away as they should have and municipal clerks who illegally altered the qualified voting file."On Aug. 15, The Detroit News reported the Macomb County Clerk Tony Forlini's office had notified the state and Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido of "possible double voting involving four individuals" in the Aug. 6 primary election. The situation was first identified by St. Clair Shores Clerk Abby Barrett, according to Forlini.Two weeks later, on Aug. 29, Lucido, a Republican, announced he wouldn't bring charges because of the incidents.At the time, Lucido said the report submitted by local police to the prosecutor’s office indicated that there was “no malicious or criminal intent displayed by any of the voters, each claiming an honest mistake.” The report indicated the individuals in question had tried to spoil their absentee ballots, believed they had spoiled their absentee ballots and then proceeded to cast a ballot in person, the prosecutor said."The people did everything in their power to make sure that they only voted once," Lucido said previously. "The intent is critical on our part on whether we charge.”But Nessel, Michigan's top law enforcement official and a Democrat, said her office believed Lucido "had conducted no additional investigation" beyond the work of local police, and the handling of the matter by his office had been "insufficient." Nessel said voters simply cannot, under the law, spoil an absentee ballot on Election Day and then vote again in person."Frankly, some of the statements he made were just factually inaccurate and also legally incorrect," Nessel said of Lucido, who is up for reelection.Nessel said she believes the evidence will show the four people were "trying to vote a second time."In a statement, Lucido said he respects the Attorney General's "jurisdiction and investigatory resources.""It is not unusual for the Attorney General to charge criminal cases in which a local prosecutor did not," Lucido added. "I expect justice will be served. I have no further comment on this ongoing case."But Christina Hines, the prosecutor's Democratic opponent in the Nov. 5 election, said "it is unacceptable that our elected Prosecutor chose not to even investigate this case" and argued it showed Lucido is unqualified to hold office.“Pete Lucido’s failure to investigate, charge — or even display a basic comprehension of voter fraud — is just another reminder of why Pete Lucido should not be our Prosecutor," said Hines, a former Washtenaw County first assistant prosecuting attorney, in a statement.Nessel said her office hadn't determined the motive of the seven individuals charged on Friday. Her office was uncertain of the party affiliation of most of the seven people. Two of the assistant clerks, she said, had previously listed themselves as Democrats when registering to serve as election workers.The four St. Clair Shores residents are being charged with one count of voting absentee and in person and one count of offering to vote more than once. They are Frank Prezzato, 68; Stacy Kramer, 56; Douglas Kempkins, Jr., 44; and Geneva O’Day, 62. If convicted, the maximum penalty for voting absentee and in person is five years in prison, while the offering to vote more than once charge can result in up to four years in prison, according to Nessel's office.Two St. Clair Shores election staffers are being charged with one count of falsifying election records, one count of voting absentee and in person and one count of offering to vote more than once. They are Patricia Guciardo, 73, and Emily McClintock, 42. The falsification of election records is punishable by up to five years in prison.Another election worker in St. Clair Shores, Molly Brasure, 31, is being charged with two counts of falsifying election records, two counts of voting absentee and in person and two counts of offering to vote more than once.Attempts to contact the seven individuals on Friday were not immediately successful. In a Friday statement, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said anyone who tries to vote multiple times in an election "will get caught and they will be charged."“We will watch closely to see how the facts bear out in this case," Benson said. "But anyone who thinks they can get away with voting fraud in Michigan should know we will not tolerate any attempt to interfere in our elections."Instances of double voting in Michigan have been extremely rare, according to a 2022 report from the Michigan Office of the Auditor General, which examined the state's qualified voter file. The report found 99.99% of votes examined were not duplicates.cmauger@detroitnews.comView Comments Staff Directory Sitemap Legals Subscription Terms & Conditions Advertiser Acceptance Policy Terms of Service Privacy Policy Your Privacy ChoicesContact Us Advertise Your Business Buy and Sell Help Center Subscriber Guide Manage Account Give FeedbackSubscribe Today Newsletters Mobile Apps Facebook X eNewspaper ArchivesJobs Cars Homes Classifieds Renvy.com Michigan.com© 2025 www.detroitnews.com. All rights reserved.
You've got to be double stupid to try and get away with voting twice