I've never written a diary before, and I will try to make it the appropriate 3 paragraphs, but I wanted to get this information out there to Wisconsin voters(and any others who are experiencing the same thing in other States) who might be deceived.
Many people, all registered democrats here in Southern Wisconsin, have been sent a form in the mail from the John McCain campaign, full of "Country First" slogans. It includes 2 requests for absentee ballots in the envelope. It includes an addressed envelope to send it back to the city clerk.
The problem is, that the address of the city clerk is not in the right voting district. For example, the people living in Middleton, Wisconsin (a suburb of Madison) have an envelope to send back to the Madison City Clerk. This, in the best circumstance, would mean an administrative nightmare for the Madison County Clerk, meaning she would have to forward the application to the Middleton City Clerk. At worst, people would either not get their absentee ballot in the mail, or again, would have the wrong city clerk address. If this occurred, the vote, sent to the wrong clerk, would be voided.
Lee Rayburn and John Nichols were on the local progressive radio this morning, talking about the issue. Noting that these forms have not been sent to independents or republicans.
I want to write this diary to inform people this is happening here in Wisconsin, and presumably, in many other places around the country. I have called the Government Accountability Office who said "technically, this is not illegal" and " we hope that the McCain campaign and Wisconsin Republican Party are not sending out false voter information on purpose". He suggested I lodge a complaint, but that all they will probably do is ask them why they are sending out false information.
I ask you, when canvassing, phone calling, volunteering, please ask people to either vote by absentee ballot at City Hall, in person, or to make sure you are sending the form to the appropriate city clerk.
I smell and old fish in a new newspaper.
UPDATE: http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot...
There is more on this in other States at the Political Carnival