Advocacy Groups Demand Probe into ‘Threatening’ Texts to Young Wisconsin Voters
Two political advocacy groups are asking Wisconsin’s attorney general and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate what they described as “threatening” text messages sent to thousands of young voters in the battleground state.
The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and Free Speech For People sent a letter Tuesday to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, asking their offices to investigate the text messages and take “appropriate enforcement action against the perpetrators.”
The nonprofit groups allege the intent behind the message was to intimidate young voters by warning them against committing election fraud. Thousands of Wisconsinites reportedly received this anonymous text message: “WARNING: Violating WI Statutes 12.13 & 6.18 may result in fines up to $10,000 or 3.5 years in prison. Don’t vote in a state where you’re not eligible. STOP2END.”
“Without prompt investigation and action,” the letter said, “the sender may continue its efforts to frighten eligible young voters into not voting.”
Voter intimidation is illegal under federal and Wisconsin law. Under the Voting Rights Act, it’s unlawful to “intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person for voting or attempting to vote.”
Wisconsin law stipulates that no “person may personally or through an agent, by abduction, duress, or any fraudulent device or contrivance, impede or prevent the free exercise of the franchise at an election.”
“Voter intimidation has no place in our democracy,” Debra Cronmiller, executive director for the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, said. “Wisconsin voters need to know that these threatening text messages are illegal.”
Democracy Docket reached out to Kaul and the DOJ for comment. A spokesperson for Kaul said in a statement that his office “takes allegations of potential violations of election law seriously.”
“Wisconsin DOJ is reviewing the information provided and will assess what if any follow-up is appropriate based on the facts and the law.”
A day before the letter was sent, Kaul put out a press release reminding Wisconsinites that voter intimidation is a crime. “The law not only prohibits individuals from taking any of these actions personally, but it also prohibits individuals from having a third party take these actions,” the release said.
The groups said the messages were sent on Oct. 10 to voters aged 18-25, including young staffers at the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and voters who are part of the University of Wisconsin system.
A staff member at Democracy Docket also received a text.
“Students who live and attend college in Wisconsin are allowed to choose whether to register to vote with their school address or their home address,” the letter said. “But now many students and other young voters are fearful that they will face criminal prosecution if they register and exercise their right to vote—because of a malicious, inaccurate text sent by an anonymous party.”