Project Red, White & Blue
"Voter History" mailer causes controversy
Reporter: Cory Marshall
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Your name, your street address and your voting history are not exactly what you want your neighbors to see -- but it's out there.
Some Tucson residents are enraged after receiving a "Vote History Audit." Listed on the audit is their neighbor's name, street address and past voting history.
"This is the first time we've ever seen something like this. We've never seen a mailer. It's a different type of get-out-the-vote," Pima County Recorder, F. Ann Rodriguez said.
The letter is being sent out to select neighborhoods and people by Americans for Limited Government. On their website, the group claims to be non-partisan.
Voting history and voting registration information is public record but Rodriguez says the group isn't getting the information from her office. She speculates the organization is getting the information from political parties or consulting firms.
"This is an organization that is targeting certain areas," Rodriguez said.
It's not just in Tucson. An online search show the mailer has been sent out across the country.
The mailer reads, "We have conducted an audit of public voting records in your neighborhood, and wanted to present you with the findings of past civic participation in your community. Again, I would like to thank you for active civic participation. I hope the above vote history record is informative."
In a statement released to 9OYS an ALG spokesperson writes, "While some may find the ability of campaigns or civic groups like ALG to access voting history worrisome, the reality is that in a representative democracy using voter lists and histories is a fundamental tool."
ALG continues, "Ultimately it is our hope that what our mail piece accomplishes is an increase in participation in the process. If that is achieved, we at ALG will declare the American people the winners and celebrate."
ALG tells 9OYS the data comes from a contractor's compilation of public records.
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