(WWJ) The Michigan Attorney General has filed election fraud charges against four voters and three deputy clerks for crimes related to double voting in Macomb County.
The four voters, all from St. Clair Shores, are accused of voting twice in the August Primary Election by sending one ballot by mail and then casting a ballot in person.
"One person, one vote. It's a simple but highly important American value we've all known since we were children," said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. "When people violate this principle they violate state law, and undermine the most basic tenants of our American democracy."
This move by the AG comes more than a month after Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido announced that he would not be bringing criminal charges in the case.
Lucido said, after a review of the evidence, probable cause did not exist to believe that a crime had occurred.
Charges, as issued by Nessel's office, are as follows: Frank Prezzato, 68, Stacy Kramer , 56, Douglas Kempkins, Jr., 44, and Geneva O’Day, 62, all of St. Clair Shores, each face one count of Voting Absentee and In-Person, a maximum penalty 5-year felony, and one count of Offering to Vote More than Once, a maximum penalty 4-year felony.
Assistant Clerks Patricia Guciardo, 73, and Emily McClintock , 42, are each charged with one count of Falsifying Election Returns or Records, a maximum penalty 5-year felony, one count of Voting Absentee and in Person, and one count of Offering to Vote more than Once.
Assistant Clerk Molly Brasure, 31, faces two counts of Falsifying Election Returns or Records and two counts each of Voting Absentee and in Person, and Offering to Vote more than Once.
It is alleged that Prezzato, Kramer, Kempkins, and O’Day appeared in person at their local polling location in St. Clair Shores requesting ballots to vote in the August Primary Election, where they were told by poll volunteers that their absentee ballots had already been received. Despite warnings in the Electronic Poll Book, which tracks voter information, indicating the voter had already voted absentee ballot, the AG says the election workers were allegedly instructed by Guciardo, McClintock, and Brasure to override the system warnings and issue in-person ballots. The voters then cast these ballots, which were then counted alongside their absentee ballots, resulting in double votes.
After the election, St Clair Shores Clerk Abrial Barret reported these four instances of double voting to Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini, St. Clair Shores Police, and the state Bureau of Elections. The matter was referred to the Department of Attorney General by the Michigan Department of State on August 15, which began investigating.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issued the following statement after Nessel issued charges in the case on Friday.
“Voting more than once is illegal. Anyone who tries to vote multiple times in an election will get caught and they will be charged," Benson said. “We will watch closely to see how the facts bear out in this case. 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.
“I am grateful for the bipartisan, professional election administrators all across Michigan who work hard daily to ensure we count every valid vote, and only valid votes. Our team will continue to work alongside them to prepare for November.”
All seven defendants were charged in 40th District Court in St. Clair Shores. An arraignment date has not yet been set.