FLINT, MI -- A Flint resident is alleging supporters of Mayor Karen Weaver are committing voter fraud.

Resident Marcia Shackleford joined Genesee County Clerk-Register John Gleason and Weaver’s challenger, state Rep. Sheldon Neeley, at a press conference on Thursday, Oct. 17 to discuss the alleged fraud.

Shackleford said she was approached by supporters of Weaver at her home in the River Village Apartments on Dukette Boulevard. She alleged that they were passing out absentee ballots to residents of the building and urging people to vote for Weaver in the election on Nov. 5.

“Be truthful in what you stand for and maybe you will get your votes,” Shackleford said. “I do not hate Mayor Karen Weaver, but what you did was wrong. Be honest with what you do.”

Concerns regarding absentee ballots in the mayoral race were first raised during the primaries in early August. It was reported about nine thousand Flint residents voted in the primary election, according to unofficial results from the county clerk.

Neeley said he filed complaints with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the US attorney’s office and forwarded all complaints to the attorney general’s office.

“We want to educate the public so they won’t fall victim to this activity,” he said. “We ask ... all of these entities to intervene and continue and investigate, if one is already begun, and if not, to begin one around these allegations.”

Shackleford said she did not give her absentee ballot to the workers because she “didn’t feel it was right." Shortly after the alleged incident, she read about voter fraud and was glad she didn’t give her ballot away.

“It seems like this is a habitual event that happens in our city of Flint,” said Gleason. “Being the county clerk over seven years, we hear so many complaints about the way elections are handled in the city. And every single time, we have trouble with absentee ballots and we must do better on that.”

The Flint City Clerk’s Office will be open on Saturday, November 2, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to issue absentee ballots over the counter for the mayoral election Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019.

Absentee ballots that have already been completed may also be turned in at that time by the voter.

The final deadline for voters to return an absentee ballot is 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5.