*Warning: Deceptive Robo Calls Made to Voters in NC, Kentucky, Oregon and WVA

WillYourVoteBCounted

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Mon May-05-08 10:43 AM
Original message

Please warn voters in North Carolina who may have gotten these deceptive calls.
Kentucky, Oregon and West Virginia are also at risk.

NC's final day of voting is tomorrow, Tues May 6.
Report information about the origin of the calls at 1-866-OUR VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

According to Alex Koppelman at Salon, 182,236 illegal robo calls were made to voters in North Carolina on April 24 & 25, during the middle of NC's early voting period. At least some of the voters were registered, many were African American.

Other states with upcoming primaries, Kentucky, West Virginia and Oregon also are at risk according to the complaint filed by the NC NAACP on May 3rd.. Millions of calls were made.

The group behind the calls, Women's Voices, Women Vote - made two different types of calls, depending on the target.
More from the Complaint by the NC NAACP

Calls targeting white women

(See Ex. 2)
On calls, apparently to white women, a woman said: "Hi. Just a reminder. Your voter registration form is in the mail to you.
Your voice counts and your vote . Sign it, date it and send it in. Thanks!"

Calls made by an African American man, who identified himself as Lamont Williams (hereafter "Lamont") gave the following message to other homes:

"Hello. This is Lamont Williams. In the next few days, you will receive a voter-registration packet in the mail. All you need to do is fill it out, sign it, date and return your application. Then, you will be able to vote and make your voice heard. Please return your registration form when it arrives. Thank you." According to WVWV, "Mr. Williams is a professional voice talent," and his calls only went to men and a woman was used to contact women."

The "Lamont" tell voters they aren't registered according to the NC NAACP complaint.

Lamont's calls tell people that are registered that they are not and that the only way they can vote is to wait a few days, get a form in the mail, fill it out and mail it back in. As one commentator said, "Whether the result of deliberate design or massive negligence on the part of WVWV and/or its vendors in terms of the timing of the calls and the determination of who would be called, the end result is something which rightly raised suspicions about the intent of this program."

Does WVWV really want to help voters register to vote?

NC allows same day registration during early voting, but the anonymous robo calls didn't mention that.
Regardless of what state you live in, you can report information about the origin of the calls at 1-866-OUR VOTE (1-866-687-8683)

States that are future and past victims:

"The robo-calls in N.C. were part of a massive set of calls and mailings in 24 states in late April 2008 that included Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Oregon--all states where the voter registration deadline has passed and the primary is approaching. Two months earlier, on 6 and 7 February during other primary campaigns, Lamont, or someone acting for WVWV, made millions of calls in 22 states, including Virginia. At that time, the registration deadline had passed in Virginia and the primary was days away. The resulting chaos led to an investigation by the State Police and more promises from WVWV to change its deceptive practices."

For more see
N.C. NAACP files formal vote-suppression complaint against Women's Voices, alerts U.S. DOJ of concerns Saturday, May 03, 2008
and
WVWV robocalls: Anatomy of a cover up by jakester Sun May 04, 2008

*Warning: Deceptive Robo Calls Made to Voters in NC, Kentucky, Oregon and WVA

Please warn voters in North Carolina who may have gotten these deceptive calls. Kentucky, Oregon and West Virginia are also at risk.

Please warn voters in North Carolina who may have gotten these deceptive calls.
Kentucky, Oregon and West Virginia are also at risk.