VOTER SHAMING: MAILER SENT TO CHICAGO VOTERS CLAIMS TO TELL WHICH NEIGHBORS HAVE VOTED IN RECENT ELE

[Stellar]

https://abc7chicago.com/politics/voter-shaming-mailer-sent-to-chicago-voters-claims-to-tell-which-neighbors-have-voted-in-recent-elections/5152212/

Friday, February 22, 2019 06:28PM
CHICAGO (WLS) -- With an election just days away, Chicago mailboxes are filled with election mailers, but there is one that caught the eye of Old Town resident Charlie Thompson that did not seem right.

"It seem very odd when we got it, it kind of looked official, kind of not," said Thompson.

He and his wife received separate letters from something called "The City of Chicago Voter Report". As a tactic to get people out to vote, the mailer lists the Thompsons' voting record and a number of their neighbors records for the past 3 elections.

"I think it is super important to get out and vote I have no problem sharing whether I voted or not, it's the idea they would try to scare people in doing it seems wrong," said Thompson.

The mailing did not come from the Chicago Board of Elections. On Friday, the Board received several complaints from voters, primarily from North side wards. Because voting records are public, the mailers are legal.

"These are really a nuisance for voters, these are irritating for voters, the best thing you can do is pitch it and don't pay attention to it," said Chicago Board of Elections spokesman Jim Allen.

So, who sent the mailers? Because they were sent to more than one ward, the Election Board assumes a mayoral candidate is behind it.

While the City of Chicago Voter Report is a bogus name, the return address, 55 E. Monroe Suite 3800, does exist as office space. With his mailer in hand, voter Wayne Foraker came to the building looking for answers, only to find "The Voter Report" doesn't exist.

"I was told to be aware of the Chicago way, I now know what the Chicago way is and I'm intimidated as a voter," said Foraker.

Like Foraker, some voters say the mailer may have an opposite effect and shame them into not voting. The Board of Elections says the mailer tactic is not unique to Chicago, it has been used in other states, usually when elections are expected to be close.

Video at the link.

[Rorey]

1. Yeah, I don't agree with that at all

Where I live I can look up what anyone's affiliation is, and if they're active. I don't mind if anyone knows what my affiliation is, and that I'm an active voter, but I can see where some might not like it.

Anyway, encouraging folks to vote is fine, but shaming people into voting is not. JMO

[Stellar]

2. I don't know if that's the proper way or not, but...

perhaps there could be some kind of tax incentive to encourage them to vote OR perhap even make voting mandatory and fine them...mail a ticket to their home for not voting.

[murielm99]

3. We can look up people's voting record in Illinois.

We can see what elections they voted in. I do that in my precinct all the time. I get a list of voters.

I know people around here who will not vote in primaries because they do not want the neighbors to know their party affiliation.

And there is Vote Builder too, if you want to see who voted and how they voted.

Why are these people all up in arms? This is just plain stupid.

[frazzled]

4. Where can you look that up?

That is, if you’re just a regular resident, and not a registered political committee? I only see a list available to official campaigns/comittees, for a fee.

By “we,” I assume you mean a campaign, not the general public. That’s how you do voter contact/outreach in every state I’ve lived in.

But that information should not be given out to the general public. It’s privileged information, not something to be tossed around.

[murielm99]

5. It is public record:

https://foxillinois.com/news/local/your-personal-voting-information-is-public-record-10-20-2018

I get the information for my precinct and for other precincts in my area because I am a precinct committeeman. I get the lists for the precincts I need. I do have to pay for some of the lists. And of course I have access to Vote Builder.

This is public record. You can look up anyone's voting record free of charge. Get in touch with the Illinois State Board of Elections if you don't believe me.

[frazzled]

6. Ah, you have to go to Springfield

and show ID and look up individual names, according to the article. Glad to know it’s not just available willy nilly online.

I’m not worried about that limited information being available—it always has been since I’ve worked on campaigns (for use in phone banking and canvassing). But I still don’t think a group should be sending out the information to neighbors who didn’t even request it. That’s wrong.

[murielm99]

7. You do not have to go to Springfield.

You can go to your county clerk. You can go to Vote Builder.