The Close Connection Between Foreclosures and Votes

October 7th, 2008 | Tags: Foreclosures

There is a close connection between foreclosures and votes – the entire voting system of USA. During the past two years over million Americans have lost their houses. In all probability they will be facing challenges during the next presidential elections from interested political lobbies because voter’s registration is founded on the addresses of the citizens.

The drama will intensify in the states from which the two presidential candidates hail. In Ohio over 5% of the borrowers are delinquent or undergoing the foreclosure process. During the first six months of 2008, over 67,000 foreclosure actions have been initiated. Michigan and Florida too are hard hit states.

Innumerable advocacy groups and other organizations are working to guarantee the voting rights of the minorities, the physically challenged as well as the students. However since the foreclosure crisis has recently hit the country and is still raging all through, nothing has been done to see that the foreclosure victims have not lost their voting rights on top of their houses.

Low-income group and minorities occupy most of the regions where foreclosures have been intense. They are traditionally inclined towards the Democrats. It is a challenge to officials to be extra alert to see that the Republicans do not make capital out of the foreclosure lists and debar voters.

On this issue there was recent furor in Michigan. A free thinking website quoted the Republican chairperson hailing from Macomb County as saying that he would follow those lines to stop Democratic supporters from voting. Although he has taken a holier-than-thou attitude the Barack Obama Campaign has filed a legal suit anticipating trouble.

In Macomb County about one out of every house is stained with foreclosure. There is every likelihood in some pockets trouble will break out to prevent those who have lost their houses (a sizeable number) from voting. They might either be misled or intimidated.

Local officials will have a very important role to play the help those caught in the foreclosure trap to cast their ballots. It must be made clear that no matter where they are residing, they have the right to vote. Foreclosures cannot and have not taken away that right. The specific rules vary from one state to another. Those who have changed their place of residence should immediately contact the related authorities. Election officials should see that there are enough workers to handle the situation.