Investigation Into Possible Voter Fraud in Marijuana Petition

(City of Ferndale Press Release, Sept. 17, 2013)

The Ferndale City Clerk has prompted an investigation into possible voter registration fraud involving Andrew Cissell. Mr. Cissell submitted a voter registration application at an SOS branch office on June 10, 2013 listing his residence as 921 W. Drayton in Ferndale. His arrest and the subsequent investigation last week on unrelated charges raised questions about whether Mr. Cissell resides in Ferndale or Oak Park. City Clerk Cherilynn Brown explained, “the Michigan Election Code requires an investigation into the facts when credible information is received of possible fraudulent voter registration.” Ms. Brown filed a complaint with the Ferndale Police Department on Monday to start the investigation.

Ferndale Chief of Police Timothy Collins commented, “The Ferndale Police Department has been contacted regarding the possibility of voter registration fraud. We have conducted a preliminary investigation which lends some credibility to the allegation. I have requested that the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office review our preliminary investigation and to conduct a formal voter registration fraud investigation if warranted. If warranted, the investigation will be forwarded to the Oakland County Prosecutors Officer for prosecutorial review”.

Andrew Cissell filed petitions with the City of Ferndale on July 20, 2013 requesting an addition to the City’s Code of Ordinances which would basically allow the use, possession or transfer of less than 1 ounce of marijuana, on private property, by a person who has attained the age of 21 years. Mr. Cissell signed each petition sheet and listed the Ferndale address in the notarized “Affidavit of Circulator”.

Whether or not a conviction on fraudulent voter registration will affect the ballot proposal’s validity is being examined. Representatives of the Michigan Bureau of Elections say the Election Code does not provide a remedy if voter fraud is determined after a proposal has been placed on the ballot. Ballots are already at the printers to meet Saturday’s state and federal deadline for issuing absent voter ballots to military and overseas voters.