College students in Wisconsin have the legal right to register to vote and take part in elections using either their school or home address. However, a recent text message, which was deemed as “threatening” by two nonprofit organizations, has raised concerns about potential voter intimidation in this crucial swing state.
The text message sends a clear warning, citing the violation of WI Statutes 12.13 & 6.18, which can lead to severe consequences such as fines of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to 3.5 years. The message emphasizes the importance of not voting in a state where one is not eligible and concludes with the instruction to STOP2END.
In a letter addressed to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul (D), the nonprofit organization Free Speech for People, acting on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, revealed that “thousands” of young voters in Wisconsin received a text on October 10th.
According to the letter, the text messages specifically focused on young voters aged 18-25, with a particular emphasis on those who are part of the University of Wisconsin system.
According to a letter written by concerned individuals, including students and young voters, there is a growing fear that they may be subjected to criminal prosecution if they register and exercise their right to vote. This fear has been instigated by a misleading and malicious text message sent by an anonymous party.
The letter mentioned that the text was sent to young staff members at the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. Similarly, a staff member at Democracy Docket, a voting rights news website founded by the Democratic election lawyer Marc Elias, also received the text, as mentioned on the group’s website. It is worth noting that at least one recipient of the text shared a copy of it on X, previously known as Twitter, as reported by the Associated Press.
According to recent polls, college students are showing strong support for Vice President Kamala Harris in this year’s election, as opposed to former President Donald Trump. This is significant because their votes could potentially play a decisive role in swing states.
Wisconsin residents who are studying out-of-state have the opportunity to vote absentee in Wisconsin according to state law. Similarly, out-of-state residents who are studying in Wisconsin are also eligible to exercise their voting rights in the state.
The HuffPost’s request for comment on Wednesday was not responded to by the U.S. Justice Department.
The nonprofits mentioned a lawsuit filed in New York by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation against Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, right-wing conspiracy theorists.
The lawsuit highlighted their use of robocalls specifically targeting neighborhoods with significant Black populations, with the intention of intimidating voters during the 2020 elections.
According to the robocalls that were sent to numerous recipients in several states, voting by mail may have some concerning implications. The calls claimed that if you choose to vote by mail, your personal information will become part of a public database.
This database could potentially be accessed by law enforcement agencies to track down individuals with old warrants. Additionally, credit card companies might utilize this information to collect outstanding debts.
The robocalls even suggested that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) could use mail-in voting records to track people for mandatory vaccines. In light of these claims, the calls advised individuals to be cautious and not disclose their private information.
The case saw the intervention of the New York attorney general’s office, resulting in Wohl and Burkman being found guilty of violating the Voting Rights Act, the Ku Klux Klan Act, and New York civil rights law.
As a consequence, they agreed to pay a fine of up to $1.25 million. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission imposed a $5 million fine, and they were sentenced by an Ohio judge to 500 hours of voter registration as a result of their guilty plea to telecommunications fraud.
It’s important to note that they still have multiple felony charges pending in Michigan.
In a letter addressed to Wisconsin and federal officials, it was strongly emphasized that parties engaging in voter intimidation should not be able to use technology as a means to hide or benefit from the anonymity of texting.
The letter urged these officials to promptly and thoroughly investigate the content of these texts, disclose the identity of the individuals or groups responsible for spreading them, and take the necessary enforcement actions against those found guilty.
Debra Cronmiller, the executive director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, expressed her determination to protect Wisconsin voters from illegal activities such as threatening text messages. She emphasized the League’s commitment to fighting against individuals who aim to create confusion during elections.
According to Courtney Hostetler, the legal director for Free Speech For People, the disinformation text message sent by anonymous perpetrators poses a distressing and dangerous threat to the voting rights of thousands of young people. Hostetler, who challenged the candidacy eligibility of former Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), expresses concern over the ability of these messages to target and undermine the right to vote.
