The New York Times reports here that a transgender politician is being sued for election fraud by an unsuccessful opponent. The opponent claims that voters were misled by the candidate’s identification as “Michelle Bruce,” even though she had served under that name for four years as a member of the Riverdale, Georgia City Council prior to the election in question. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports here that the State of Georgia issued a driver’s license to Bruce in the name “Michelle Bruce,” and that Bruce registered to vote and filed the requisite formal notice of candidacy under that name.
This is not like the 2002 gubernatorial election in New York when Al Lewis (of “Munsters” fame) sued to have the ballot list his name as “Grandpa Al Lewis.” People may have called Mr. Lewis “Grandpa” on the street, but there was no suggestion that Mr. Lewis voted or carried a driver’s license with that name. Oh, and by the way – his birth name wasn’t Al Lewis, either. He was born Alexander Meister.
-Bridget Crawford
