Michigan considers "mailing it in" to make primary votes count

by Troy Kehoe (tkehoe@wsbt.com)

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Mail-in caucuses in Michigan and Florida

Some Democratic Party leaders are in favor of holding mail-in caucuses in Michigan and Florida. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

CASS COUNTY, Mich. — Democratic Party leaders are still searching for a way to make Michigan's primary votes count. Now, some say they've found a way: electing a candidate through the U.S. Postal Service.

The Democratic National Committee stripped Michigan and Florida of all their delegates to the national convention because both states moved their primaries up in violation of party rules. That made votes in both states essentially meaningless.

But it also created a major problem for the party, because the race between Illinois Senator Barack Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton is so tight. Some say the only solution is a "do-over."

On Sunday, DNC Chairman Howard Dean told CBS News' Face The Nation that both states will be forced to "follow the rules."

"I think it's very unlikely that Florida and Michigan, given how close this race is, [are] going to be seated as is. Both Michigan and Florida have an opportunity to either have some sort of a process that is within the rules, or simply appeal to the credentials committee."

And last week, both Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist expressed a willingness to hold a new election.

The question is, how?

A new primary would be far too expensive, and both governors say they won't use taxpayer dollars to fund it. Some say holding another primary would also be illegal.

That's left the states considering holding a Democratic caucus instead. But that could be difficult to organize at the last minute, and some worry it would be sparsely attended.

"How many people have the time to go down to a caucus?" wondered one voter WSBT spoke with in Cassopolis.

That's left one other potential solution: holding the caucuses by mail.

Chairman Dean says he's open to the idea.

"That's actually a process that's been used elsewhere," he told CBS News. "And there's precedent for having a so-called do-over. D.C. had to do it. I think Delaware had to do it, because other states have jumped ahead in the past, too, and then thought better of it later on."

"[It's] actually a very good process," he continued. "And it's one that we discussed early on, when we were negotiating with Florida, hoping to head all this stuff off. It's comprehensive. You get to vote if you're in Iraq or in a nursing home. It's not a bad way to do this."

Democratic Michigan Senator Carl Levin agrees, particularly because the costs associated with a mail-in vote are much lower, and the DNC has refused to pay for a "do-over."

"I think that only a mail kind of vote will work," he said Sunday.

Still, Sen. Levin and others are worried about security.

"How do you make sure that hundreds of thousands, perhaps a million or more ballots can be properly counted and that duplicate ballots can be avoided?" he asked during an appearance on ABC's "This Week" program Sunday morning.

"You should have a photo ID to vote," agreed another Cass County voter. "With a mail-in, there's no security at all."

For some, it's a headache on top of a headache, and enough is enough.

When asked if he believes another primary or caucus is necessary in the first place, Cass County Democratic Party Chairman David Taylor replied "No. Absolutely not. And it will not happen."

And Taylor says there's a simple reason why.

"The people who won, won in accordance with Michigan law. And I don't think Howard Dean or any other person can change the law at the last minute to re-do something they don't care for. I think it's an unfair process to have a second election when you don't like the results of the first."

Taylor says that policy should apply regardless of who the eventual nominee is.

"Barack Obama had an opportunity to be on the Michigan ballot. He chose not to. I think he has to live with his choice."

That's why his suggestion, is that the DNC "fix the system," and seat Michigan's delegates based off the results of the state's original primary. If that doesn't happen, he predicts a whole new set of problems.

"Michigan and Florida could get together and hold their own convention," he said. "If [the delegates] are not seated, we could have a situation with Hillary Clinton's name appearing on the ballot in Michigan and Florida, and Barack Obama appearing in 48 other states."

Taylor says Michigan is slated to elect its convention delegates on March 29 based off the primary that's already been held.

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