Concerns Raised Over Voter Roll Purge in Ypsilanti Township
A civil rights organization has raised concerns about potential violations of state election laws and the U.S. Constitution in Ypsilanti Township. The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has warned the township clerk about aggressively purging names from the voter rolls, potentially disenfranchising hundreds of voters.
The ACLU pointed out that some voters in Ypsilanti Township may have been wrongfully removed from the voting rolls after their mail was returned as undeliverable. This issue came to light when a township voter reported being illegally purged despite still residing at the address. The ACLU emphasized that mail delivery issues should not result in voter disenfranchisement.
According to ACLU senior attorney Phil Mayor, Ypsilanti Township had a significantly high number of absentee ballot cancellations in the 2025 elections, raising concerns about systemic problems that could have affected up to 200 individuals. Mayor noted the importance of safeguarding voting rights, especially amid political pressure to clear voter rolls for potentially questionable reasons.
In response to the ACLU’s letter, Ypsilanti Township Clerk Debbie Swanson stated her commitment to addressing the concerns raised. Swanson, who assumed office in 2024, expressed readiness to collaborate with the ACLU on resolving the issue and investigating the reported voter roll purges.
The ACLU has requested a response from the township clerk by February 13 and filed a Freedom of Information Act request for additional documents. The Michigan Bureau of Elections and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson have also been informed of the situation, with further review pending.
