Public Interest Groups Urge US and Wisconsin Attorney Generals to Investigate Illegal Voter Intimidation

WASHINGTON, DC (October 15, 2024) – Free Speech For People issued a letter today to US Attorney General Merrick Garland and Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, demanding that they investigate threatening text messages, identify the source, and promptly take appropriate enforcement action against the perpetrators in order to protect Wisconsin’s voters. 

Last week, thousands of young Wisconsin voters received a threatening 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.” It was distributed widely across Wisconsin, but specifically targeted young voters 18-25 years of age, including young staff members of the League of Women Voters and many voters across the University of Wisconsin system.

It is not yet known how many thousands of voters received this message. Its sender remains anonymous. 

“Voter intimidation has no place in our democracy,” said Debra Cronmiller, executive director for the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. “Wisconsin voters need to know that these threatening text messages are illegal and the League of Women Voters will fight against bad actors who seek to sow confusion in our elections.” 

“Voter intimidation is illegal and undermines the core of our democracy, where every citizen is free to vote without fear or interference, said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “Intentionally targeting young people during an election season, and especially this close to the election is outrageous, and the League won't stand for it. The League of Women Voters is committed to ensuring voters can make their voices heard this fall.”

Wisconsin law is clear: 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; and Wisconsin residents who attend college out-of-state may elect to vote absentee in Wisconsin. Wis. s. 6.02, 6.15, 6.18. But now, while voting by mail is ongoing and one week before early in-person voting begins, students may be wondering whether their decision to vote in Wisconsin will subject them to investigation and prosecution—and whether the safest course of action is to avoid registering or voting at all.

“It is distressing and dangerous that thousands of young people can be targeted by a disinformation text message sent by anonymous perpetrators that threatens their right to vote,” said Courtney Hostetler, legal director for Free Speech For People. “Young voters and student voters have a critically important voice in our country, and they have every right to vote in elections where they are eligible. The U.S. and Wisconsin Departments of Justice must act swiftly to protect these voters and other voters who might be subject to similarly unlawful, threatening text messages before the election.” 

The letter argues that text messages are a clear effort to threaten and intimidate voters, which is illegal under both the federal Voting Rights Act and under Wisconsin law. Parties that commit voter intimidation should not be allowed to hide behind technology or benefit from the anonymity of texting. Young voters in Wisconsin should be able to go to the polls without being subject to intimidating, disinformation messaging about their rights. And the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, engaged in important, nonpartisan Get Out The Vote efforts, should not be left scrambling to reach and correct dangerous election disinformation from anonymous sources. 

The letter demands swift action urging the U.S. Department of Justice and the Wisconsin Department of Justice to promptly and thoroughly investigate these texts, make public the identity of the party or parties responsible for disseminating the texts, and take appropriate enforcement action against the perpetrators.

Read the letter here. 

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Free Speech For People is a national non-profit organization dedicated to defending our democracy and our Constitution. The organization serves as a leading force in the country in litigation to protect the right to vote and our elections.