Report Warns Foreclosure Crisis Threatens Voting Rights

Last week, the Fair Elections Legal Network released a report detailing how the voting rights of many people with foreclosed homes may be in danger this election cycle unless Secretaries of State in each state take action. 

Foreclosure status affects voter registration because voters who need to change residences may have difficulty establishing their new residence with registrars or may not be able to do so by the deadline for registering to vote in their state. As a result, many voters may be unable to vote or unsure whether they are eligible to vote.

The number of foreclosures in the United States has risen in each of the past two years and is expected to reach 3.1 million in 2010, meaning that many voters could be affected this fall.

The Leadership Conference believes that the foreclosure crisis is a human and civil rights issue and supports legislation that would allow homeowners a final option to modify their mortgages in bankruptcy court, which would reduce foreclosures.