How to Vote in Next Week’s Election if You’ve Lost Your Home

If you’re one of the two million people who’ve received a foreclosure notice this year, you might be concerned regarding your ability to vote on November 4. Concerns were voiced after a report noted that GOP officials in the state of Michigan planned to use the list of foreclosures to challenge voters’ eligibility at the polls.  (The GOP has since announced that it wouldn’t do so.)

With the number of foreclosed homes in the United States at an all-time high, the potential confusion voters may have over this issue might keep them from hitting the polls next week.

Rosemary Rodriguez of the United States Election Assistance Commission states that foreclosure does not take away the right to vote. If your home has been foreclosed on, or if you’ve received a foreclosure letter, you can still vote. If a poll worker should attempt to deny you a vote, and you believe you are a registered voter, challenge the poll worker to prove that you’re ineligible to vote.  (This year, there should be any number of people at various voting locations across the country who’ll be happy to help you defend your right to vote.)

If worse comes to worst, simply ask for a provisional ballot.  (The problem with that is that provisional ballots are much more likely to be cast aside uncounted than a regular ballot is.)

Tags: election, foreclosure, voting

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