Registrar: Foreclosures not an impediment for Nevada voters

The Brennan Center for Justice, a legal advocacy group, cautioned today that homeowners facing foreclosure in key states could be unfairly challenged when they go to the polls in November.

With so many Nevada families facing foreclosure, group leaders said they were concerned that some political groups could wrongly try to challenge the validity of those registered to vote when they show up to the polls on Nov. 2.

Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said today that the fear is unfounded. Nevada law allows a registered voter to cast a ballot even if they changed addresses.

“If you are registered to vote at some address, move and don't tell us. You are still registered and eligible to vote,” Lomax said.

Wendy Weiser, director of the center's Voting Rights and Elections Project, said that in 2008 there had been a scheme to suppress voting in Macomb County, Michigan using foreclosure lists. The scheme was exposed before it could be attempted.

Michael Waldman, executive director of the center which is affiliated with the New York University School of Law, said that any effort to keep voters from the polls could have a profound impact given the competitiveness of so many races.

“It's something we think bears investigating,” Waldman said at the National Press Club in Washington.

Lomax said he has heard no rumors of schemes or plots in Clark County to suppress voter turnout using foreclosure lists or any other method.

Voters who are uncertain of their status or where to cast their ballots should visit the Clark County website.