INDIANAPOLIS -- Some people in Indianapolis have received mysterious letters from an organization, telling them when they and their neighbors last voted, and seemingly shaming them into voting again.
The letters come from the Center for Voter Information and say, "Public records indicate that you are eligible to vote in 2018. Who you vote for is private, but whether or not you vote is public record."
The letters then show a table with the recipient's name, address, and whether or not they voted in 2012, 2012, 2014 and 2016.
In May, the Indiana secretary of state's office said although the information is technically public record, Indiana law restricts the availability of those records. The secretary of state’s office only provides this information to state political parties and legislative caucuses.
“The State of Indiana does not treat lightly its role to strictly limit access to voting records,” said Secretary of State Connie Lawson said in May, when similar letters were sent. “Many of the Hoosiers who have contacted our office have indicated that their voting records, as stated in the letter, were inaccurate. I would advise anyone who receives the letter to disregard it.”
The latest version of the letter also says,
"We will be reviewing these records after the election to determine whether or not you joined your neighbors in voting. We may call you to ask about your voting experience and will update this chart for the next election. If you do not vote this year, while we will be disappointed, we'll be interested to hear why not."
See an example of the letter below. The recipient's name and address have been blurred.
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