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Her ex is a convicted felon but got a mail-in ballot. County says that's OK. Here's why

"I write on it RTS or return to sender, and then I make a statement, 'this man is a felon and is not allowed to vote,'" she said.

PHOENIX — For the past six years, Susan Pinnerud said she has been receiving mail-in ballots for her ex-husband in Phoenix. Most recently, she recieved a mail-in ballot for the upcoming November election.

"I was angry all over again," Pinnerud said.

She received the ballot about a week ago. As frustrating as it can be receiving ballots for someone who no longer lives at the address written on the ballot itself, that's not what has Pinnerud concerned. 

Pinnerud said her ex-husband, Eric Garrison, is a convicted felon, and should not be allowed to vote in any election. She said every time she receives one of his ballots in the mail, she always writes a message on it before putting it back in the mail.

"I write on it RTS or return to sender, and then I make a statement, 'this man is a felon and is not allowed to vote,'" she said.

But the ballots keep coming back.

“As many times as I sent a ballot back, it should have been taken care of,” Pinnerud said.

According to court records, Garrison has a criminal history dating back to 2005. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to dangerous drug violations and was sentenced. Records obtained by the State Department of Corrections reveal Garrison was released in 2014.

With recent political fighting regarding mail-in ballots, Pinnerud has concerns about this happening to other people in the Valley. She said she is also worried some may try to take advantage of the extra ballot.

“I can't be the only one," Pinnerud said. "If this is happening here, it's got to be happening all over the state.”

Sierra Ciaramella with the Maricopa County Recorder's Office that handles elections said thinking convicted felons cannot vote a common misconception. 

“If someone has one felony, then their voting rights can be restored at the completion of their sentence,” Ciaramella said.

Those who have two or more felonies can also vote in elections, but Ciaramella said they have to petition the court to get those rights back. The courts also provide the county reports of updated felony convictions.

“So then we'll run that report and we will cancel registrations based on what we find from there,” Ciaramella said.

When asked about people receiving ballots for people who no longer live at the home it was addressed to, Ciaramella said there is actually a box on the envelope itself for this exact situation. Once it is checked and mailed back through the post office, it will notify the county.

In regards to voter signatures, Ciaramella talked about the county's multi-verification system used to check for fraudulent signatures. She said during the general election last November, 3,000 ballots were tossed because the signature could not be verified. Those who are caught forging signatures could face a felony per state law she said.

Ciaramella also said for those who do move out of state or to a different county, they have to call the Recorder's Office to notify them and fill out a cancellation request form. That way a ballot for them will not be mailed out to the previous address.

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