First-time voters who registered by mail or with a third-party group must vote in person Nov. 4, according to an advisory released today by Attorney General Mike COX. But the head of the Michigan Association of County Clerks said clerks won't heed the AG.

Saginaw County Clerk Sue KALTENBACH, a Democrat, said more than half of Michigan's 83 county clerks would continue to help first-timers cast absentee ballots. Cox, a Republican, said this doesn't comply with the law.

Kaltenbach said she does not believe they're in violation of the law or that the advisory is necessarily legally binding.

"Unless we're told to actually cease and desist, we'll continue," she said today.

Secretary of State Terri Lynn LAND disagrees with the AG's advisory, spokeswoman Kelly CHESNEY said today.

MCL 168.509t

(2) A person who registers to vote in a jurisdiction in this state by mail shall vote in person and shall provide identification . . . if that person has not previously voted in person in this state. This subsection does not apply to any of the following registered voters:

(a) A person entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the uniformed and overseas citizens absentee voting act.

(b) A person who has a disability or, for purposes of voting in person only, a person who is 60 years of age or older.

(c) A person who is entitled to vote other than in person under any other federal law.