From the new west blog: Election Day 2008
Voter Supression Text Messages in Idaho and Montana
By Jill Kuraitis, 11-04-08
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Some voters in eastern Idaho have received a text message saying, “Flash: Due to very long lines, all Obama voters are asked to vote on Wednesday. Thank you. Please forward to everyone.”
Of course, the polls close Tuesday night and the message is not true.
Secretaries of State for both Idaho and Montana made the announcement. Ben Ysursa, Idaho’s Secretary of State, said he hopes it’s someone’s idea of a joke, and not an organized effort to illegally influence the outcome of the election.
Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson’s office issued an advisory also saying it was a possible practical joke.
“This office has received a few complaints about text messages encouraging individuals to wait and vote on Wednesday because of long lines at polling places today. In all likelihood, this is a practical joke. But in case anyone actually believes these messages, Montanans should know: Election day is today. After eight o’clock p.m. today, there is no other opportunity to vote in the 2008 election.
Johnson said, ‘So far polling place lines are moving relatively quickly. There’s no reason any registered voter should choose not to vote. Jokes about trying to talk your political opponents into not voting are one thing. But if anyone believes it, we want to present them with the facts.’
It is in fact a violation of state and federal law. The US Attorney’s office and the Montana Attorney General’s office have expressed an interest in the matter. Complaints about the subject should be directed to law enforcement.
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Comments
You can thank me later dead-enders.
That's an old joke that's been around for years, and I don't think anyone's going to come out and admit they're so uninformed that the text kept them from voting. If the jokes can't be shown to have done any harm, I'd guess there'd be no violation.