Authorities say the woman, who’s name was not released, submitted two absentee ballots on behalf of her two adult children.
Park Township election officials reviewed absentee ballot return envelopes submitted during the August 4th primary election. As part of the standard signature verification process, township clerk’s office staff noticed discrepancies between the signatures on the envelopes and those contained in the voters’ records. Staff also noticed similarities to the parent’s signature in her own voter record and absentee ballot materials.
Park Township Clerk Joan Zeerip stated, “Our election staff followed the established procedures, recognized that something was not right and acted immediately. The safeguards surrounding absentee voting exist to ensure that every ballot is cast by the voter to whom it was issued.”
After an investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, charges were filed and the case was bound over to circuit court. Arraignment is scheduled for October 26th.
The two ballots in question were rejected by the Park Township clerk’s office and not counted.
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