Younger Wisconsin voters obtain intimidating texts

Many younger voters in Wisconsin have obtained texts that stated they may face hefty fines and jail time for voting in a state the place they’re “not eligible” to take action, the Related Press reported. The texts appeared to inaccurately indicate that it’s unlawful for out-of-state college students who research in Wisconsin to vote the place they go to high school.

A nonprofit, Free Speech for Individuals, on behalf of the League of Ladies Voters of Wisconsin, despatched a letter to the U.S. and Wisconsin Departments of Justice, asking them to research the texts. The League of Ladies Voters informed the AP the group is anxious that “the sender might proceed its efforts to frighten eligible younger voters into not voting” if the federal government doesn’t intervene. The letter stated that the textual content message was obtained by “hundreds” of younger voters.

Wisconsin is a swing state the place presidential elections have traditionally been determined by extraordinarily small margins. The state’s Republicans have tried to encourage out-of-state school college students to vote of their residence states prior to now; in January, they proposed a invoice that will have mandated the Universities of Wisconsin present out-of-state college students with details about voting by mail of their residence district, although it didn’t cross.

The Wisconsin DOJ informed the AP it’s presently reviewing the request. The U.S. DOJ didn’t reply to the AP’s request for remark.