FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 03, 2008
Contact: Laura Egerdal, (573) 526-0949
Contact: Ryan Hobart, (573) 526-4734

Carnahan Defends the Voting Rights of Missourians Losing their Homes

State law sides with those facing foreclosures

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is taking steps to protect Missourians facing foreclosures by educating the public about their voting rights. These individuals are no different than any other Missourian nor should their fundamental rights be jeopardized.

“These folks are hurting. The lives they built have been turned upside down because they can no longer provide a home for their families,” said Carnahan. “This is the most crucial time to vote and the possibility of losing that right should be the last thing they worry about.”

There are approximately 27,000 foreclosed homes throughout Missouri. This number continues to increase, leaving more Missourians feeling less secure about their ability to vote when going to the polls.

“There is no place in our state for targeting those in foreclosure proceedings and questioning their right to vote,” said Carnahan. “I will not stand for partisan games that aim to prevent eligible voters from participating in this election.”

Secretary Carnahan will continue to protect the rights of Missourians facing this issue and inform the public that the law is on their side.

Any individual who still resides at the address where they are currently registered to vote is still eligible to vote. Foreclosure is about ownership, not residence, and simply because a home is on a public foreclosure notice, does not mean the individual must leave their home or no longer lives there.

If an individual has left the foreclosed home, it does not mean they are not eligible to vote.

• If an individual has relocated within an election authority’s jurisdiction, that person may file a “change of address” with the election authority up to and including Election Day and they may vote at a central polling place or at the polling place that serves his or her new address.
• If an individual has relocated and moved outside their previous election authority’s jurisdiction, they may complete a new voter registration application by the deadline so long as it is received or postmarked by October 8, 2008.
• If an individual has relocated outside their election authority’s jurisdiction and updates their voter registration information after the October 8, 2008 deadline, they may vote by absentee ballot for President, Vice-President, US Congress and statewide elected officials, questions, propositions and amendments by contacting their local election authority. 

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To find out more about Missouri’s Secretary of State’s office, visit www.sos.mo.gov

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