BLOG for ADVOCATES

We created this blog to share interesting advocacy related items that cross our desks. It can be anything from new research on funding for advocacy to examples of unusual advocacy strategies. If you have an item to share please send it to npaction@npaction.org.
NPAction Staff

Monday, October 06, 2008

Election Dirty Tricks

As the election approaches, voters should be on the look out for a number of time-honored tricks. An article from abc news, warns that voters, especially students should be conscious of underhanded tactics that are being used to confuse voters about their registration.

The article warns to beware of:

• "Push-poll" phone calls using the guise of a survey to push negative information about a certain candidate
• Leaflets or emails that list the wrong date, or even a rain date for the election
• Automated voicemail messages that tell voters polling locations have been changed
• Repeated late night automated calls with a "message" from a candidate

Even though strict federal laws should make such schemes impossible, experts say that the Internet is bringing the extreme ability to allow pranks to be carried out easily and anonymously.