Wisconsin League of Women Voters Calls for DOJ Investigation into Threatening Texts Targeting Young Voters

 

The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin has urged the Department of Justice to investigate a series of text messages that they claim aimed to intimidate and deter young voters ahead of the upcoming November election. The organization first became aware of this alleged campaign on October 10, after receiving numerous complaints from voters who had received the unsettling messages.

Among those who reported the messages were two young individuals in their 20s affiliated with the League. The texts contained a warning that read: “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.”

The League clarified that voter eligibility rules for college students are the same as those for other residents of Wisconsin. To be eligible to vote in the state, individuals must have resided at their current address for at least 28 days prior to the election.

The issue of student voting has become contentious, particularly in Republican-led states, where lawmakers have introduced measures to limit student participation. These include restrictions on using student IDs as valid voter identification and reducing the number of polling places on college campuses. Proponents of these laws argue they are necessary to prevent voter fraud, while critics contend they disproportionately affect young voters, who tend to lean Democratic.

Debra Cronmiller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, expressed her hope for accountability regarding the intimidation of young voters. She noted that the apparent mass text campaign was unusual and that the organization had been preparing for various scenarios that could disrupt the election process. “I think because we were as prepared as we were, is why we could respond so very quickly to this particular threat,” she stated.

In their letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the League, alongside the nonprofit organization Free Speech for People, alleged that the threatening text messages were aimed at young voters aged 18 to 25, particularly those within the University of Wisconsin system. The letter highlighted concerns that the messages instilled fear among students and young voters regarding potential criminal prosecution for registering and voting, due to the misleading information from an anonymous source.

The groups have called on the attorney general's office to investigate the origin of the text messages and to make the findings public.