The Kansas Democratic Party says a pro-Republican group is trying to re-institute 18th-century voting laws via robo-call.
The automated phone calls, made Saturday, supposedly told voters to bring their voter registration card and proof of home ownership to the polls on Wednesday. This is really bad information. The election is Tuesday. Also, voters in Kansas need to provide identification only if they are casting a ballot in a county for the first time and have not already provided ID. Property ownership was eliminated as a voting prerequisite before the Civil War.
Larry Gates, the Kansas Democratic Party Chairman, says the calls amount to voter intimidation. "Every Kansas voter should feel comfortable with their right to cast a ballot and understand tactics like these are lies meant to scare them away from exercising their right," he is quoted as saying.
The Kansas Attorney General's Office says it will investigate the robo-calls. Misleading someone about his or her ability to vote is a felony. "Every eligible Kansas voter should expect to cast their ballot without undue interference, harassment or obstacle on Tuesday, November 2nd," AG Steve Six, who is up for election today, says in a statement.
The Kansas GOP denies involvement. "The Kansas Republican Party clearly identifies ourselves at the beginning of every volunteer and robo-call we originate in accordance with state laws," Ashley McMillan, the executive director of the party, is quoted as saying.
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