RICHMOND
The Know Campaign, a nonprofit group that planned a mass mailing to 350,000 Virginia households highlighting the voting records of residents and their neighbors, has until Dec. 3 to identify the source of the voter data or the matter will be turned over to the State Police, the State Board of Elections said Monday.
Many "irate Virginians" have called the board wanting to know about the confidentiality of their voting records since the campaign's plans were made public just before the Nov. 3 election, board member Nancy Rodrigues said.
"They want us to get to the bottom of this sooner rather than later," Rodrigues said, "and I can appreciate that because it is a violation of privacy."
The mailing was halted amid indications that the voter information might have been acquired illegally.
The Board of Elections has been conducting an inquiry into where the group got the voter history lists.
Under state law, such information is restricted to candidates, elected officials and political party chairmen. Those who acquire such lists must sign a statement agreeing not to share the information with anyone else. Violation of the law is a felony.
Attorney Tony Troy, who represents the Know Campaign, told the Election Board on Monday that his client used a "mailing house" and never actually had the voter list, nor did the nonprofit plan to obtain it.
"We're going to cooperate fully to try to help the board unravel everything," Troy said.
However, Troy said, before turning over the vendor's name, his client needs a letter from the election board to help deal with a "contractual claim with the mailing house." Troy declined to elaborate on why the nonprofit couldn't simply turn over the vendor's name.
Jim Hopper, attorney for the Election Board, said the Know Campaign probably is trying to get a refund.
"My guess is that money has changed hands and now they want it back," Hopper said.
If the Know Campaign complies, the election board would shift its attention to the mailing house to find out how it obtained the voter information.
Ultimately, Hopper said, they want to find out who gave the data to the mailing house.
It's possible that a candidate or elected official gave the information to the mailing house for their own campaign, which would have been a legal use, Hopper said. Whether the mailing house would have violated the law by using it for the Know Campaign might have to be resolved in court, he said.
Who was behind the aborted mail campaign and who funded it remains murky, but the group has Republican ties.
The Know Campaign was registered with the State Corporation Commission on Oct. 20. Its registered agent is Ashley L. Taylor Jr., a Richmond lawyer who is active in Republican politics. He was appointed by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 2004. Taylor has given nearly $5,000 to Republican candidates in recent years, including $1,250 to Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
Taylor has referred inquiries about the Know Campaign to Debra Girvin, the group's executive director.
Girvin has declined to identify the other principals in the organization or the source of the $150,000 that funded the voter effort, which she has described as a nonpartisan campaign to increase participation in the democratic process.
Pilot writer Bill Sizemore contributed to this report.
Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com
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During the last election I
During the last election I received a list in the mail of all my neighbors who did not vote in the previous election. I assume everyone else in my neighborhood did as well. I was a little perturbed by this. I feel that a person's voting record is their own personal matter, and it's certainly not their neighbor's business. It opens the door for extreme door-to-door solicitation, which was already a HUGE nuisance in my area. Almost everyday I had campaigners knocking on my door, asking if I was registered or surveying who I planned to vote for. Personally, I think it was out of hand and the letter was completely out of line.
Targeting
My concern when this originally came out was that the group would target homes in either predominately Republican or Democratic neighborhoods, and this could easily sway the vote. The information that is available is a list of people that voted in National elections, and a list of those that voted in smaller elections. From that you could easily target those that don't normaly vote in State elections. Another piece of information that is publicly available, is how each voting district voted. With those two pieces of information, the group could easily send mail to everyone that only votes in National elections, and live in a predominately Republican (or Democratic) neighborhood. Thus, could sway the vote by encouraging people to vote.
The mailings would only be fair and non-politically motivated if the mailings were to 350,000 names randomly selected.
I think they were bluffing
Personally I think these idiots were bluffing and never had any data. I think they just wanted to draw attention to themselves and underestimated the backlash from their stupid plan.
If in fact they did have this data and obtained it illegally they should be hammered for it.
QUIT YOUR WHINING!!
If you whiners and the State Police want to seek out a REAL crime, why don't you look up the names and addresses of all the voters who were registered with the help of ACORN? You'll find thousands of non-existent "voters"! People are running scared from the Know Campaign's mailing list because of all the NO SUCH ADDRESSEE envelopes that will bounce back from all these ACORN registrations. You Democrats are such losers - you'll lie to get your way, then lie to cover up the lies when someone is on to you! By the way, any state law that says one person can have the list but another can't is unconstitutional anyway; I'd like to get my hands on that list and publish it on the Internet just to poke the Legislature in the eye with a sharp stick!
Blah, blah, blah
As I said before, you Republicans need to get off this ACORN meme. The facts in case you're interested:
1. There were several cases (in the hundreds) of folks ACORN hired to register voters prior to the 2008 election who submitted fraudulent voter registration cards.
2. Most of those fraudulent voter registration cards were discovered by ACORN staff and turned into local election officials for appropriate enforcement action. Criminal cases were pursued against 36 of them and five so far have been convicted of voter REGISTRATION fraud.
3. I defy you to find a single report of one voter who actually cast a vote in 2008 using a fraudulent ACORN registration. Even the general counsel for the Republican National Committee has admitted that. Having Mickey Mouse turn in a voter registration card is one thing: having him show up at the polls to cast a vote with proof that he is in fact Mickey Mouse is another.
4. Republican officials in Ohio illegally purged tens of thousands of voters names from voter registers in Democratic-leaning districts in 2005 and 2006. Now where's the injustice?
"A well informed citizenry is the bulwark of democracy." T. Jefferson
I voted
I voted, And I can guarantee you no-one knows how I voted except the voting machine. and all I know is, it doesn't print out my name on anything nor does it emit any signal, but numbers for the candidates.
Now my question is what does any political party have in reviewing my credentials when I check in to the voting precinct, only the agent should be given any information.
Secondly, I vote the straight republican ticket and if anyone wants to threaten or coerce me, come on! I'm not ashamed and am rather proud of it and it doesn't need to be held a secret from anyone.
Another List?! Imagine THAT!
Not long ago several "News"papers printed the names & addresses of citizens who had applied for and received police & courts approval to hold "conceal carry permits". Now THAT was a true violation of privacy and it put individuals in danger from those who would make their own list based on the paper's story and the addresses of those law-abiding citizens listed under the "sunshine laws" and F.O.I. act. Even if there is a "list" of registered voters, it could only show which party the individual is registered under. That would & could not indicate how that person actually voted. But since this is coming up with a republican group implicated, this is a very newsworthy story indeed. And just to be certain "we" are in the know about the Know Campaign, it is pointed out twice in this article.
Once as "About the Know Campaign" and at the close of the article. My greatest concern is that everywhere one looks, there is another lawyer. Either side, too many lawyers and a mess all around. The trouble is, well, I guess it depends on your definition of what the word "IS" is. I voted, got the sticker. But my finger isn't blue. That's courage by voting!!!
everyone should be on the list
Who you vote for is not recorded. When you enter the voting booth, your name is not attached to the button you push. It's still secret. What is available is the fact that you took the time to go to the poll and vote. Candidates want to address mail to those that take the time to vote, rather than waste printing and postage on those not likely to vote. Thus "the list".
Everyone should be on that voter list. Vote every election, or get stuck with the person your neighbor voted for.
But
this shouldn't be available,period. Better that the candidates and parties encourage all to vote instead of targeting. This just adds to the apathy. Why do we care if candidates can "save" money. The goal is to convince as many people as possible to support you.
Having run a shoestring campaign
I ran as the Libertarian Party candidate for the 14th Dist Senate seat in 2007 and had such a list. It is a vital tool for underfunded, grass roots, campaigns. I didn't win, but as my major party opponent had $120,000 to spend and I had only $5000, if I were to have any chance at all, targeting my resources was a must.
When I, or my volunteers, knocked on doors or made calls, we did not bother with addresses where no one votes. Targeting those who had voted in similar elections made the shoestring campaign more effective(though not effective enough.)
While campaigns backed by the major parties, or monied interests, can afford to mail to every home, and call every phone in the district, independent and minor party campaigns cannot. So, unless you want to tilt the advantage even more toward the monied campaigns and guarantee the incumbents always win, it is vital such lists remain available, with, of course, appropriate safeguards against misuse.
Since all existing senators
Since all existing senators and congressmen can mail stuff out for free, I do, in fact, care that they "waste money". Particularly as it is my money they are wasting. Also, while the enviroment is not a hot button issue for me I do not hate it. Needlessly killing trees is wasteful.
Am i reading this correctly that the government has a
method of tracking who I voted for? That they track what I did behind the curtain?
While who I registered as is common knowledge, or near common knowledge, it does not mean I vote the way I am registered.
Heck, in places like Swaziland, Basra, Pakistan, Afganistan, you see the guy putting a piece of paper into a big box. Other ballots are put into the same box. Confidentiality is maintained. Please don't tell me that confidentiality is lost in the US. I hope I am so wrong on this.
No one should have that information, NO ONE. They do not need to know who I voted for, or how I voted for amendments and other referendum items. Why do they need to know that? So they can put pressure on me, cull me from my political party? Question my loyalty to the Party? I am loyal to the Constitution, not a political party. They do not need to know how I vote.
Uh, no, they don't
The lists tell the candidate what elections you voted in, but not who you voted for.
Some people vote in national elections but don't vote in state and local elections. Others vote in state elections when there is a governors race but not when it is only the General Assembly at stake.
Turnout in the last General Assembly election in Chesapeake was only 14%. That 14% represents the most likely voters and the first a minor party, underfunded campaign should try to reach.
With such a small portion of the eligible voters calling the shots, targeting resources is critical for grassroots campaigns.
Good or Bad?
Is it better that you and I (who are educated and vote) make the decisions for everyone or do you want those who don't read a newspaper or know where Pakistan is on a map making decisions on your behalf?
WE are now the elite Doc. We are small in number but large in representation. We make the decisions and elect local leaders.
You can never educate the masses to know enough to rightfully elect the correct people to govern. That's why this country was founded by ELITES and is still run by them.
There may be two libertarians in the world who agree on absolutely everything, but I am not one of them. – Anonymous
Not so good
Unfortunately, that 14% is not necessarily voting out of idealism and public interest. A substantial portion represents special interests voting for their rice bowl.
The largest employer in Chesapeake is Chesapeake, with school teachers, city workers and city retirees and their families making up better than 10% of the registered voters. They are reliable votes for the incumbents and big government.
If you assume they will show up at the polls to protect their interests(and they do,) then even if a Libertarian or other small government candidate gets 2/3rds of the non-government dependent vote, he can't overcome that bloc vote advantage with less than a 40% turnout.
If we on the small government side are to prevail, we must inspire others to show up and vote for the principles that made the US what it is.
Jeffersonian Democracy
"If we on the small government side are to prevail, we must inspire others to show up and vote for the principles that made the US what it is."
We gave the right of representation up when we elected officials to make our decisions for us. Today that representation is co-opted by corporate interests at all levels.
I do also agree on people becoming engaged in the process and educated on the issues. Too bad this country is going the other way on both accounts.
There is one party now. Join it and get elected. Small Government is gone.
"When there is no wind, row."- Chinese Proverb
I'm confused
Is it just me or is there a huge contradiction on the legality of sharing this information??
First we have: “Under state law, such information is restricted to candidates, elected officials and political party chairmen. Those who acquire such lists must sign a statement agreeing not to share the information with anyone else. Violation of the law is a felony.
But later, the article says, “It's possible that a candidate or elected official gave the information to the mailing house for their own campaign, which would have been a legal use.” HUH??? Is that by definition sharing?
I had those lists when I ran
I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement limiting how those lists could be used, and if I employed anyone to handle those chores, (which I could not afford to do) there were similar forms I had to get them to sign and forward to the State Board of Elections.
If those lists were misused, someone who signed for them passed them on unlawfully and can be held accountable.
For information on how these lists can be purchased and used, see
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Cidate_Information/Purchasing_Voter_Registration_List.html
can you say ACORN?
can you say ACORN?
Try again
The culprit is a Republican operative. This whole ACORN meme has gotten old. Move on to something current and relevant like all 40 Rethug Senators opposing legislation to better protect chemical and nuclear power plants from terrorist attacks.