This is strange! I received a letter today from the Center For Voter Information stating that I

[Floyd R. Turbo]

didn’t vote in the 2014 election. I have voted in every election since 1968!

[LisaM]

1. Ruh roh.

Better look up and check if that is a phony company and see if you can turn them in or alert your local TV station.

[C_U_L8R]

2. What is "The Center For Voter Information" ??

Sounds like some phony Republican group peddling a bullshit scam.

Oh wait.... they are !!!!
https://www.channel3000.com/news/politics/officials-warn-voters-about-absentee-ballot-mailers-after-concern-over-incorrect-information/802593260

Be careful. Things aren't what they seem.

[NJCher]

3. glad you posted that

I've received at least two or three of these! Threw 'em right in the trash as I already consider myself an informed voter and don't need them. I will spread the word. Scumbags.

Shoulda' known it was repuklican scam.



p.s. on edit, I'm not so sure it's a scam. I'm suspicious, but not totally convinced. There are links from their site to some credible sites, such as League of Women Voters. However, their "about" section is sketchy. We should investigate more!

[Donkees]

6. In the comments section: ''This is a 501C that exclusively supports Democrats. This is a fact ...

This is a fact that can be verified by FEC filings.

''These absentee ballots being mailed by this group in with incorrect information that would result in the ballot being rejected is not an isolated incident. They were caught doing this a few months ago in Arizona. ...

Robert Silvia
I verified your information. Yes, they seem to only send out mass mailings in opposition of republican candidates.''

http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C90009317/1243307/f57

[JakeTanner]

7. Where does it say it's from Repubs?

Not sure where you're getting the idea it's from a Republican group.

"In Wisconsin, about 27 percent of all eligible African Americans, Latinos, young people and unmarried women are not expected to vote in the midterms," Dripps said in an emailed statement. "We hope that our Vote by Mail applications will encourage as many Wisconsin residents as possible to vote in the crucial November elections.”

Sounds more like they're trying to drum up voting from people more likely to vote Democrat.

[C_U_L8R]

8. Ahem, sending false information to Democratic voters

plus their site has absolutely ZERO governance information.
Not a single real person signs their name to this organization...
see for yourself... https://www.centerforvoterinformation.org
THAT is what Republican ratfuckery looks like... And I'd be happy to be
proven wrong. Why does this group act so shady and what are they hiding?
Who are the actual people running this group and what are their histories?
And where are they getting their money and what are they doing with it?

[skypilot]

10. That's what I was thinking.

Tricking people into wasting their vote. It's either Repub ratfuckery or a Democratic group that really sucks at what it does. I'm going with ratfuckery.

[JakeTanner]

12. Well, there's this...

"THAT is what Republican ratfuckery looks like. And I'd be happy to be proven wrong."

I think I can help you there. Lionel Dripps is a very real person, and here's his LinkedIn profile.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lionel-dripps-4a579917

Lionel's experience includes:

Democratic Senate Campaign Fund, Democratic Party of Wisconsin, O'Donnell for Colorado

Also lists him briefly as Regional Director, Democratic Party of Wisconsin

So we know their leader's political persuasion (that's assuming there's even anyone else there besides him). I checked out their site, yes it has very little real information. But it's obviously designed to offer as little real info as possible.

I landed here doing some research because as a registered Dem I got one of their semi-creepy, vaguely threatening mailers. They're claiming to be a "nonpartisan organization" in their footnote, but I don't think that's the case. My guess? It's a scam, but not from Repubs.

[Donkees]

4. Received a filled-out absentee ballot application from them and a letter informing me that I am

part of a voting study. They will be checking to see if I vote, and may call to ask about my experience casting a ballot.

[suston96]

5. Check it out.....

I received the same kind of letter and I read it wrongly at first.

I think it's legitimate as whether you vote or not is public record. Your choices are private.

That group studies voting trends and patterns.

I say again, check it out. My letter came from Center For Voter Information, Phoenix AZ.

[JakeTanner]

14. I got a mailer from them too, and have to disagree about the "legitimate" part

First of all, it's nice they informed me my voting choices were private, gee how swell of them. It rubbed me the wrong way though telling me they looked into whether I voted or not.

I'd have looked even past even that, except there was also this part which went over the top: "We're sending this mailer to you and your neighbors to share who does and not does vote..." So they've elected themselves Big Brother, and they're going to tattle on me to the guy down the street if I don't vote? Orwell would cringe.

I don't think they just study trends and patterns -- I think they target only Democrats with mailings and vaguely threaten to expose you as some kind of apathetic pig to your neighbors, if you don't show up to the polls. Of course that's just my opinion, I'd be interested to know if any Republicans get their mailers.

[JakeTanner]

9. Whoa! These guys are all shades of shady

Looks like they found a neat way to keep people from voting:

The Mower County Auditor’s Office had experienced an influx of confused voters coming to the government center regarding an application sent to them in the mail by the Center of Voter Information, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization based in Washington D.C., according to Treasurer/Auditor Steve Reinartz.

These applications came to some residents with pre-addressed envelopes with partially filled information. Inside also included a return envelope addressed to the Mower County Treasurer/Auditor’s Office. However, Reinartz stated that many of those who received these applications did not realize it was for an absentee ballot and would not be able to vote at the polling station on Nov. 6 if the county processed their application and issued them an absentee ballot.

“We’re afraid that if they send that application in, we’re required to give them an absentee ballot,” he explained. “ They cannot vote in the polling place again on Election Day. They won’t be able to vote, and may create some confusion if they have never voted absentee before.”
https://www.austindailyherald.com/2018/09/mower-clears-up-confusion-regarding-absentee-ballots/

[Mr.Bill]

11. Wow, it doesn't work that way here.

In California, if you got an absentee ballot you can still vote in person at the polling place with a provisional ballot. You just have to sign a form saying your absentee ballot was not delivered, lost or spoiled. Then they give you the provisional ballot.

[JakeTanner]

13. Not sure it works that way there, though

My guess is that based on their politics (see my posts above) they're probably mailing these ballots out to Republicans. And trying to confuse them or even disqualify them from voting at the polls. I looked up some other stuff about this org, they're giving Democrats a bad name.