DETROIT – The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) today sent a letter to Ypsilanti Township Clerk Debbie Swanson to express serious concerns that, according to an analysis of election data, as many as 200 American citizens may have been wrongly purged from the township voting rolls last year. The letter also outlines the verified account of an Ypsilanti Township voter who said that she had been illegally removed from the voter rolls after an absentee ballot and a follow-up notice, both mailed to her home from the Clerk’s Office, were returned as undeliverable. The voter was living at the township address at the time and said that a problem with the post office interrupted mail delivery.
As stated in the letter, canceling a voter’s registration immediately after mail is returned as undeliverable violates federal and state election laws. Because mail can be returned to the sender as undeliverable for many reasons, the law clearly states that voters cannot be immediately removed from the voting rolls based purely on non-delivered mail unless two federal election cycles have passed without the person voting or otherwise confirming their address.
As also outlined in the letter, data shows that Ypsilanti Township recorded an exceptionally high rate of cancellations related to absentee ballots during the 2025 August primary and general election. For example, of the 400 absentee ballots rejected statewide for this reason, 125 – more than 30% – came from Ypsilanti Township. As the letter explains, while there are legitimate reasons for having absentee ballot cancellations, it is very concerning that such a large proportion would come from a relatively small jurisdiction such as Ypsilanti Township.
The letter, which is copied to the Secretary of State and Bureau of Elections, alerts the clerk to what is potentially a significant systemic problem, asks the clerk to review all cancellations that have occurred since she took office in 2025, and restore the voting rights of every person illegally purged. The letter also includes a Freedom of Information Act request for records that may provide further insight.
Phil Mayor, senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Michigan, said this about the letter:
“Both state and federal law set out clear rules to protect voters from being purged simply because a piece of their mail is returned. As this situation demonstrates, without these protections in place, there is a severe risk of voters being disenfranchised due to no fault of their own. We’re determined to protect the fundamental right to vote of every eligible voter in Michigan, correct any unlawful voter cancellations that occurred, and thoroughly understand what has occurred so that we can help ensure that it does not happen again, either in Ypsilanti Township or anywhere else.”
Cooperating attorney and election law expert Sharon Dolente said:
“Michigan’s city and township clerks are on the frontlines of democracy working to ensure elections are safe, secure and fair. It is incumbent upon every one of us committed to ensuring every eligible voter can make their voice heard at the ballot box to ensure the law is followed.”
Read the ACLU letter to Ypsilanti Township Clerk Debbie Swanson here.
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