Mailing voting records to neighborhoods?

[ACooper]

Monday in my mail box, I received an official looking letter. There was a table (like an excel table) list of past voting years stretching back to 2008 (I think) I was on the list, and about 7-8 of my immediate neighbors were on the list as well.

This list showed WHO VOTED AND WHO DID NOT VOTE for the corresponding year! Of course it didn't show HOW you voted.
I was also shocked to see a few of my neighbors do not vote, but that's neither here nor there because I'm not going to knock on their door and attempt to shame them into voting! And what if they lost the right to vote in some way years ago? Not something I'd want to bring up or discuss with them either.

At the bottom of the page, it said something like "We will update you after the coming election"

HOW CAN THIS BE? I mean, I vote and I don't care if my neighbors know I vote..........but what if the ones who DON'T vote don't really want it broadcast to the neighbors?

How do you feel about this?

ETA: And yes, I know voting records are a matter of public record........but really? Sending this out to neighbor hoods?

 

[MilliesMom]

Does it say anywhere on it exactly who compiled the information and sent it out? I think it's obnoxious, really. It's your right to vote and your right NOT to vote, as you see fit. You don't owe anybody an explanation as to why you make that choice. Geez, maybe you were sick that day, or extremely menopausal to the point where you didn't trust your judgement to make a voting choice? Personally, if somebody asked me why I didn't vote based on receiving that list, I'd make up THE most disgusting details as to why I couldn't leave my home. After that I'd say I really don't think whether I voted/didn't vote was anybody's business but my own.

 

[Doberluv]

Wow! That is really obnoxious! I'd give 'em a piece of my mind. Is it really of public record? WOW! I didn't know that. It sure seems like it shouldn't be anyone's business.

 

[Renee750il]

I think it's more ominous than obnoxious.

Sounds like a little digging into the source might be in order. Someone's accessing records that *I don't believe* are public.

 

[Doberluv]

Yes it does sound ominous...actually another thing where the gov. just has to know everything. It just seems really wrong for officials or candidates to be in on the skinny of who's voting for whom. I don't know if "conflict of interest" is the right term, but it came to my mind.

 

[Doberluv]

I came across this just now:

What is a Voting Record?

You may have heard the term "voting record." But what is it? You may not know this, but once you've registered to vote your registration and past voting record is a public record that is available to anyone that wants to see it.

These records will contain the voter's name, the address with which the voter registered to vote, the party affiliation, and the votes cast.

To see someone's voting records all one need do is go to the County Clerk's office or the Secretary of State's office and request the records.

Some states offer a "safe at home or work" program to victims of abuse, domestic violence, stalking, or to healthcare workers that may be involved in delivering abortion services. This service will make sure the home address of any person that qualifies for the program is kept off the publicly available record.

Check with your Secretary of State's office to find out more

http://www.truethevote.org/resources/faq/question/voting-record

 

[Renee750il]

So much for the principle of the secret ballot.

 

[Doberluv]

Well, when you really think about it, that's just one itty bitty part of the information "they" have on you and can get on you.

 

[Renee750il]

Very true.

Someone I know (who has neither the imagination to make it up or any inclination to lie about anything at all, ever) was told by his boss that he'd better vote a certain way if he wanted to keep his job, and that he (the boss) would know.

 

[Doberluv]

Eeeewwwwwww! Creepy. Who would want to work for someone like that?! Gosh, I'd let everyone know what a jerk that guy is. And then quit.

 

[LindaJD]

My daughters boyfriend is in a union and they were told who they had to vote for.

 

[yoko]

Is that even legal? For people to force you to vote a certain way?

Does it even matter since there is an electoral college?

 

[Greenmagick]

My daughters boyfriend is in a union and they were told who they had to vote for.

That is illegal and paints a sad picture for unions which are for the most part very good and useful

 

[ACooper]

Does it say anywhere on it exactly who compiled the information and sent it out? I think it's obnoxious, really. It's your right to vote and your right NOT to vote, as you see fit. You don't owe anybody an explanation as to why you make that choice. Geez, maybe you were sick that day, or extremely menopausal to the point where you didn't trust your judgement to make a voting choice? Personally, if somebody asked me why I didn't vote based on receiving that list, I'd make up THE most disgusting details as to why I couldn't leave my home. After that I'd say I really don't think whether I voted/didn't vote was anybody's business but my own.

If it did, I didn't notice........furthermore, I was offended by the letter and threw it out after showing it to my husband and ranting about it. Actually, I don't know if 'offended' is the word I'm looking for, but I was definitely taken aback.

If they send this supposed 'update' after the election, I will definitely update this thread with more thorough information about any organization listed. I really wish I'd thought to keep it at the time........and of course Tuesday was trash day, so it's long gone! Argh!

And yes, I would think attempting to dictate/mandate who an employee, union member, or ANYONE must vote for is VERY illegal. Proving it is another issue, plus, how can they EVER know who you voted for once you're in the booth? Therefore, how can they follow through with any threat?

 

[release the hounds]

Unions tell people who they support, they can't tell you who to vote for. just like preachers preach from the pulpit who to vote for, they can't force you or corporations will send out and advertisment for the candidate they support to it's work force or any other number of places that say, "if you're smart, or one of us, you'll vote this way"

2ndly it is a felony for anyone to take a picture of their vote or any other way they might use to "prove" whom they voted for. So good luck with that. Both parties would be in trouble, those doing the forcing and those trying to prove who they voted for to whomever.

 

[ACooper]

I just received another "Vote History Audit" in the mail JUST NOW.

The return address is as follows:

Americans for Limited Government
9900 Main Street, Suite 303
Fairfax, VA 22031

Besides the vote history, it pretty much thanks me for being a 'civic-minded citizen' who 'helps make our democracy stronger'. It goes on to say they've conducted an audit of public voting records in my neighborhood and wanted to present me with the findings of past civic participation. They also "hope the above vote history record is informative"

It all seems like a big attempt to 'shame' people into getting out and voting. I'm all for more people voting, but this is LAME and just feels wrong all the way around!

I found a youtube link, it's talking about Florida, but it's the same thing I received here in Indiana!

http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/arti...xposing-your-voting-history-to-your-neighbors

 

[Lilavati]

That is seriously creepy.

There's a pretty good reason why voter registrations have to be public (to make sure the lists aren't corrupted).

But party affiliation and if/when you voted should be right out. That's just inviting voter intimidation.

 

[SkyRock]

I think it's more ominous than obnoxious.

Sounds like a little digging into the source might be in order. Someone's accessing records that *I don't believe* are public.

Sadly they are public. You can even see is the person is a Republican or a Democrat (or any other party). I don't remember the website right now but I know that it exists somewhere because I was so outraged when I saw it!!!

--

Found it: http://www.politicalstrategies.com/VoterAdvancedSearch.aspx

 

[yoko]

Sadly they are public. You can even see is the person is a Republican or a Democrat (or any other party). I don't remember the website right now but I know that it exists somewhere because I was so outraged when I saw it!!!

--

Found it: http://www.politicalstrategies.com/VoterAdvancedSearch.aspx

I couldn't find anyone I searched for on there.

 

[Psyfalcon]

1. Public records.

2. Lots of money to mail things.