A series of letters from a shadowy group is telling Alaskans’ friends and neighbors whether they voted in previous elections — and threatening to release their voting records in the Nov. 4 general elections.
In letters photographed by Channel 2 viewers who received them, the Alaska State Voter Program lists 10 friends and neighbors, along with their home addresses and whether — but not how — they voted in the 2008, 2010 and 2012 elections.
At least one person reported subsequently receiving an email from the group containing the text of the mailed letter. An introduction in the letters rhetorically asks why people don’t vote, then poses the group’s solution to the issue. The language is mirrored on the group’s website, which allows people to generate a list similar to those in the letters by entering their name and mailing address or their Facebook account.
“This year, we’re taking a new approach,” ASVP members wrote. “We’re sending this mailing to you, your friends, your neighbors, your colleagues at work, and your community members to publicize who does and does not vote.”
USA Today said in a 2012 story that using shame as a targeted get-out-the-vote tactic has been popular on both sides of the aisle, with conservatives at the group Americans for Limited Government sending voters in 19 states nearly 3 million letters that year similar to those received in Alaska. The liberal group MoveOn.org sent postcards to 12 million “potential progressive voters,” estimating how often they voted relative to their neighbors but not disclosing those neighbors’ voting records. Full Story at KTUU.com
Image credit KTUU.com
