Brandon Twp. – In August 2002, Brandon Township resident John Gilpin signed his daughter’s name on a preliminary election absentee ballot.
The vote was cast yet later cancelled by election officials. who questioned the signature. The name verification procedure is a routine measure for absentee ballots.
Eight months later on April 11, 2003 Gilpin stood before 52nd District Court Judge Michael Batchik, and admitted to the judge he was guilty of forging the signature. But, as a result of a plea bargain between the defense attorney and the prosecuting attorney, Gilpin agreed to accept an additional misdemeanor election violation charge in lieu of the federal charges against him.
‘I am satisfied that what you are charged with violated the law,? said Judge Batchik.
‘Upon your plea, the court will dismiss the felony charge, but I would like to add the second count of misdemeanor and probation. I think it’s a good resolution under the circumstances.?
In Michigan Election Law, forgery of an election ballot is a federal offense punishable with a fine of up to $1,000 and/or state imprisonment for up to five years. An election misdemeanor charge carries a $500 fine, or imprisonment in county jail for no more than 90 days.
Original charges against Gilpin stemmed from the discovery of a discrepancy in signatures on the Aug. 9, 2002