By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – The Democratic candidate for McLean County Clerk believes voters here should be concerned by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling backing Ohio’s attempts to purge voter rolls.

The case involved a Navy veteran who didn’t vote in two consecutive elections. Nikita Richards said the court’s decision might disenfranchise veterans, people of color, and the poor.

Speaking with Sam Wood on WJBC’s Afternoon Report, Richards said the ruling places more authority on staffers who work in the clerk’s office.

“If you don’t have compassionate, dedicated, equipped staff within the clerk’s office that share the clerk’s understanding of the process, care for the process and dedication, who may decide to throw out a return card, then that creates problems,” Richards said.

Incumbent Clerk Kathy Michael, a Republican, said her staff sends at least two letters, wait for two elections, and contacts people by phone to keep voter logs up to date.

“It takes a great deal of time, research if done right, and we do it right here in McLean County. We don’t remove somebody for eight years,” Michael said.

Richards said the clerk’s office needs to work more closely with other government entities like the post office and the Department of Motor Vehicles to locate voters.

Richards is trying to unseat Michael in the November election.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].