Charges Filed Against Saugatuck Officials Allege Voting Law Violation:

Jonathan Seely

FOX 17 Web Producer

3:43 p.m. EDT, April 14, 2011

Jonathan Seely

FOX 17 Web Producer

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced today that criminal charges have been filed against Saugatuck Township Clerk and Deputy Township clerk for violating Michigan election law.

Allegedly, Saugatuck Township Clerk Jane Wright, 52, of Fennville and Deputy Clerk Lori Babinski, 44, of Fennville willfully failed to certify that containers holding voted ballots from a Saugatuck Township election were properly sealed, despite their extensive training in Michigan voting procedure.

The charges came after an investigation by Secretary of State's Bureau of Elections after the Allegan County Board of Canvassers determined that a recount of the May 4, 2010 election on a tax proposal could not be conducted due to improper handling of ballots.

In the election, voters in Saugatuck passed a two-year, 0.5-mill tax hike by a two vote margin, 491-489, in order to fund the township's defense against lawsuits filed by Saugatuck Dunes owner Aubrey McClendon in U.S. District Court over his development plans for the land.

After receiving a proposal for a recount of the vote, the Allegan County Board of Canvassers determined that a recount could not be conducted because the number on the seal used to store the ballots did not batch the number recorded in official election records.

Wright and Babinski have both been charged with misdemeanors of failing to perform a duty imposed under Michigan Election Law, which carries a sentence of up to 90 days in prison, plus a $500 fine, or both. Arrangements are being made for both defendants to turn themselves into authorities. They are expected to be arraigned in the 57th District Court in Allegan County this week.

Copyright © 2011, WXMI-TV

http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-c ... ?track=rss