KSGOP Brags about Illegal Voter Suppression

Our friends over at BlueTideRising, bring us an interesting story. The KSGOP sent out an email yesterday with the following line.

To date, the Kansas GOP has identified and caged more voters in the last 11 months than the previous two years!

I'm sure that's got you asking, "What is a caged voter?"

The use of direct mail caging techniques to target voters resulted in the application of the name to the political tactic. With one type of caging, a political party sends registered mail to addresses of registered voters. If the mail is returned as undeliverable - because, for example, the voter refuses to sign for it, the voter isn't present for delivery, or the voter is homeless - the party uses that fact to challenge the registration, arguing that because the voter could not be reached at the address, the registration is fraudulent. A political party challenges the validity of a voter's registration; for the voter's ballot to be counted, the voter must prove that their registration is valid.

Voters targeted by caging are often the most vulnerable: soldiers deployed overseas, those who are unfamiliar with their rights under the law, and those who cannot spare the time, effort, and expense of proving that their registration is valid. On the day of the election, when the voter arrives at the poll and requests a ballot, an operative of the party challenges the validity of their registration. Ultimately, caging works by dissuading a voter from casting a ballot, or by ensuring that they cast a provisional ballot, which is less likely to be counted.

So the KSGOP is not only involved in coordinated, illegal voter suppression they are also bragging about it.

Isn't this illegal?

And what is the KDP going to do about it? PLEASE don't let our state party roll over and play dead while the republicans break the law. DON'T do as the DC Democrats do!! I was ready to leave the party over their refusal to hold the president accountable. But I am still here because I have hope that the party in my state CAN make a difference for Kansans. So what can we do? Do we report this to our state AG? The US attorneys office? Has anyone contacted newspapers? Let's all stop wring our hands and actually DO something!! "Dissent is patriotic" - Thomas Jefferson

What is the KDP doing?

Please, tell us the KDP is acting on this. They need to contact the media and the state/federal election commissions. This cannot stand!

Also more on this story

Also more on this story about Republican voter suppression is found over at the Kansas blog EverydayCitizen.com, submitted there by Ally Klimkoski: Check out the following link: EverydayCitizen.com or http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2007/12/ks_gop_brags_about_vote_caging.html

Importance of Voter Registration/GOTV initiatives

    This story highlights the importance of well-managed Voter Registration and GOTV efforts, both effective methods for countering a variety of voter-suppression schemes.   

     In 2006, Registration/GOTV efforts were very effective in enfranchising voters.   It's no wonder the Republicans are nervous enough to resort to tactics like caging.   

    Let's keep on supporting strategies which actively bring out all voters.  Never listen to anyone who says, "Forget about renters; they don't vote" or "Forget about young people; they don't vote".   While young people and renters may need a nudge or help in dealing with paperwork, nudging them is well worth the effort.   The kinds of active enfranchisement efforts which worked in 2006 should be continued and expanded as much as possible.  

GOP voter challenges

I hope I'm challenged!