The left-wing organization America Votes distributed mailers appearing to use threats to bully Nevadans into casting their votes in the Nov. 8 midterm elections.
“Who you vote for is private, but whether you vote is a matter of public record. We will be reviewing public records after the election to determine whether or not you joined your neighbors in voting,” the mailers say, according to one shared on Twitter by Nevada Independent CEO Jon Ralston.
“Who you vote for is private, but whether you vote is a matter of public record. We will be reviewing public records after the election to determine whether or not you joined your neighbors in voting?”
You can’t be serious, @AmericaVotes? Is this the progressive way?
Damn. pic.twitter.com/EEons7HHll
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) October 31, 2022
Voter registration records are made available to political parties in all 50 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, and most states make the information available to the public upon request. At least 18 states keep track of whether or not individuals previously voted, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
A 501(c)4 and dark money giant, America Votes received nearly $129 million from the Sixteen Thirty Fund in 2020, according to the Sixteen Thirty Fund’s federal tax form. America Votes and the Sixteen Thirty Fund have both reportedly received money from billionaire mega-donor George Soros, and both groups have also donated money to a Super PAC supporting Democratic Wisconsin Senate nominee Mandela Barnes.
“There is a lot at stake in this election and we encourage everyone to make their voice heard. Voters should make a plan to return their ballots before Election Day on Nov. 8,” a spokesman for America Votes told the Daily Caller. (RELATED: Soros-Linked ‘Dark Money’ Group Is Funding Ads Urging Vulnerable Republicans To Impeach Trump, Records Show)
America Votes has given $3,375,000 to SOMOS PAC, a Super PAC working to support Democratic Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, over the course of the 2022 midterm cycle, according to FEC filings. Cortez Masto is polling within the margin of error in her race against Republican Adam Laxalt.
America Votes Action Fund, America Votes’ affiliated Super PAC, has raised $5.7 million and spent $3.8 million over the course of the 2022 midterms. Its only expenditure in Nevada is a $45,000 donation to Nevada Advocates for Planned Parenthood, according to the Super PAC’s most recent filing.
The left-wing group Priorities USA has conducted a similar campaign on social media, putting $30 million towards digital advertising, according to Axios.
“Who you vote for is secret. But whether you decide to cast a vote or not is public. So keep making your community proud this November,” one ad says.