NC NAACP Files With FBI, Department of Justice to Investigate Possible Voter Suppression

I've been following this story as it bubbled up from DailyKos (this diary in particular discusses the evidence for a cover-up of either wrongdoing or extreme incompetence) and Talking Points Memo. The story has been evolving on NPR (here and here) and was briefly alluded to in the Washington Post today.

At issue? A non-profit organization, Women's Voices, Women's Votes, designed to facilitate voter registration among unmarried women, was the source of illegal "robo-calls" that appeared to deliver erroneous information to African American voters and others in advance of the North Carolina Democratic Party primary. They've also contacted potential voters with registration packets that weren't well-timed to either the voter registration efforts for the primaries or the upcoming general election in November, 2008.

According to Talking Points Memo, the group's activities have spurred investigations by authorities in four other states: Virginia, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Arizona. The kicker--a majority of staffers or board members of WVWV have strong ties to the Bill Clinton administration. Among them, Senator Clinton's current campaign head, Maggie Williams.

While it's still unclear whether the 501c3 group was simply grossly incompetent in organizing its various voter registration drives across the U.S. in multiple states, or had more malicious intentions, several disturbing facts are accruing. They include not supplying a return phone number (illegal use of blocked caller ID, at least in NC), supplying information intended for the general election just prior to or otherwise near various states' dates for the primary without specifying this, and erroneously advising already registered voters that they needed to fill out a registration packet, or supplying registration packets that, if filled out, would never have made the cutoff for registration by mail. 

Even up until yesterday, when WVWV had advised the NC Attorney General's office that it was trying to put right its mistake, the illegal "robocalls" kept coming, according to the Charlotte News-Observer. Apparently a woman in Durham, NC received just such a call on Sunday, May 4, 2008, advising her about voting by mail. However, the deadline to process the paperwork for voting by mail was well past, as elections are scheduled for May 6, 2008. WVWV is in the process of recalling several thousand mailers which are said to be confusing voters.

And as of Saturday, May 3, 2008, the North Carolina NAACP has taken the step of filing a formal complaint with the FBI and the Department of Justice to investigate WVWV's activities that result in possible voter suppression along racial lines.

Voter suppression is a serious charge, even more so when coupled with the possible taint of a racially-targeted effect, and then compounded by questions regarding the group's ties to Senator and former president Clinton.

Hopefully none of the confusion created so far has deterred any North Carolinians who want to vote from doing so. Clinton, already in a precarious position having lost her early advantage among African Americans, cannot afford to lose any additional supporters from one of the most cohesive bases of the Democratic Party.

The same is true in that Obama also needs every last vote in the tight Indiana race, for example, in order to decisively consolidate his hold on the nomination. And with regard to Indiana, much to the dismay of voting rights advocates the Supreme Court recently okayed the constitutionality of Republican-sponsored voter ID requirements there, which, it's been argued, will unfairly and disproportionately burden poor women and minority voters.

Given the struggles both women and African Americans have endured to gain the franchise, it's distressing to think that poor follow-through by a non-profit that works to enable greater voter participation among precisely those groups, and on the other hand, partisan game-playing over non-existent fears of "voter fraud", could sully our democratic process. And silence the voices of people who want to be heard, but can't.

The WVWV story in North Carolina continues to develop; Facing South (Hat Tip!) has an update.

Cynematic blogs at P i l l o w b o o k.

Comments

[John J.]

I've been following this story for the past week or so over on Obsidian Wings and caught part of the story on NPR too. I am very glad to see coverage expanded and I really hope that coverage in North Carolina has been more extensive than nationwide. People are being confused and they need to be given the correct information.

Personally, I don't think (or at least seriously hope it isn't the case) that Clinton has backhandedly or otherwise endorsed something like this. The connections to her campaign, other than Maggie Williams, are all largely based on donations, which only imply a one way connection. I do, however, think she, or at least Williams, should come out and address these allegations.

It is pretty clear, from the information available so far, that this group did knowingly break these election laws. If this had happened in one state, or a couple at the same time, it would be one thing. But they have been reprimanded (if not brought under legal investigation) in 11 states; North Carolina is just the most recent and the one that has gotten the most attention.

Having spoken with Obama campaign organizers, voter registration is one of the most carefully watched and regulated volunteer activities. Everyone is very clearly told the rules and no deviation is allowed. It makes no sense that they could have been reprimanded in all these other states and not started to pay attention to their actions.

[cynematic]

John J., what doesn't pass the sniff test for me is that *their sole mission* is to do voter reg. How can they not be on top of the various states' rules and deadlines? I mean, it's not like they mainly sell pizzas and do a little voter reg on the side. And you're right, 11 states is a bit much to say, "Oops, silly us!"

[Lawyer Mama]

Plus, it's not like this (or something similar) hasn't happened before. There have been problems for years with robocalls and push polls. It's just too bad everyone thinks they have to play dirty to win.

[debbie]

yeah. this story has been catching my attention, too, Cyn. well-written - and thanks for covering it.