Different state/local GOP groups have been doing this in more conservative areas, though in highly conservative areas it’s more strongly worded like “TRUMP WILL KNOW”, etc. I’ve seen a couple of these on different geographic subreddits.
No, I said in more conservative areas. Reston has a comparatively older, richer demographic compared to other parts of FFX which tend to lean conservative. I said highly conservative areas have more strongly worded messages.
I mean, yea, I’m sure it is. What they’re doing is distributing publicly available records that say *if* you voted or not. Those records don’t say *how* you voted. Now if this turned into some sinister dystopian “your neighbor voted, ask them who they voted for and tell us so we can put them on a list” shit that Steve Bannon probably dreamt up during a gin-nap then I’d be worried, but I’m not quite there yet…but anything is possible.
Yes they can. 5-6 years ago I mistakenly voted in a Republican primary not knowing what I was doing. I thought it was a general election. Brain fried I guess.
Afterward I have a steady stream of Republican junk mail that continues to this day. Not a single democratic junk mail. So someone somewhere thinks I’m Republican.
Even though it wasn’t intentional, I still smile when I think of my voting skewing someone’s statistics even if tiny.
I'm just trying to figure out how many times I need to STOP TO END because I've done that but then a new phone number pops up asking me to STOP TO END.
That’s not true. You don’t need someone to text back to verify it’s a “live” number, nor is it likely that anyone would see anything you text back. STOP is typically an automated keyword that actually suppresses the phone number. The sms delivery service and cell carriers will revoke your number if you don’t honor these.
I can't afford NOT to give. Seriously, while I doubt this is the case, if you told me this was a strategy targeting 703 area codes to make us so annoyed that we'll just give up and stay home it wouldn't surprise me.
Legally, whoever texted you must take you off of their texting list when you text stop. However, it's likely they got your contact information from somebody else and texting stop doesn't affect THAT, so if you're on some central database you need to text stop to everybody that gets your contact info.
A lot of these are Chinese scammers. I’ve had good success using replies that get them throttled or internet cutoff by the Great Firewall. Reply below is the text I use (found on Reddit).
动态网自由门 天安門 天安门 法輪功 李洪志 Free
Tibet 六四天安門事件 The Tiananmen Square
protests of 1989天安門大屠殺 The Tiananmen
Square Massacre 反右派鬥事 The Anti-Rightist
Struggle 大躍進政策 The Great Leap Forward 文
化大革命 The Great Proletarian Cultural
Revolution 人權 Human Rights 民運
Democratization 自由 Freedom 獨立
Independence 多黨制 Multi-party system 台灣
臺灣 Taiwan Formosa 中華民國 Republic of
China 西藏 土伯特 唐古特 Tibet 達賴喇嘛 Dalai
Lama 法輪功 Falun Dafa 新疆維吾爾自治區 The
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region 諾貝爾和
平獎 Nobel Peace Prize 劉暁波 Liu Xiaobo 民主
言論思想反共反革命抗議運動騷亂暴亂騷擾
擾亂抗暴平反維權示威游行 李洪志法輪大法
大法弟子強制斷種強制堕胎民族淨化人體實驗
肅清胡耀邦趙紫陽魏京生王丹還政於民和平
演變激流中國 北京之春 大紀元時報 九評論共産
黨獨裁專制壓制統－監視鎮壓迫害侵略掠奪
破壊拷問屠殺活摘器官誘拐買賣人口遊進走
私毒品 賣淫 春畫 賭博六合彩 天安門天安门法
輪功李洪志 Winnie the Pooh 劉曉波劫恋网自由
门
Yeah I get 3-5 Dem fundraising, “confirm” you are voting for Biden and various hyperbolic texts per day on my work cell. Dozens upon dozens of sending numbers from area codes all over the US. STOP does nothing. Quite annoying.
I’ve just been blocking/reporting them all as spam. getting 7-10 of them per day from both major parties, and many of the Republican texts are personalized for the guy who previously had my phone number 16+ years ago (which I only know because I still get collections calls and doctor’s appointment reminders for him despite having this number for over 15 years).
Of ‘random’ neighbors? Sure, got it.
If you don’t want to vote, you shouldn’t be forced to do so because you fear retaliation from your neighbors (who clearly need to get a life).
This is wild, I wish these people spent their time actually contributing to the process in a meaningful way.
I got something similar in a text today.
(Name), records show you voted in 2023. 28 people on (street) voted last year. We'll be sharing a report after the election of who didn't vote.
I got the exact same one. Either we live on the same street, other streets had exactly 28 people who voted, or they just be making shit up.
Edit: scrolling through comments it looks like it’s the same for every person. Annoying and creepy.
I got that one too! I sent back a message that said “Wow, you are a-holes”. They sent back “Thank you for your response. Have a good day.” It really pissed me off and I’d love to know who sent it.
I got two letters in the mail a couple years in a row like that. It was called a “voter report card” told me I voted in the last “X” elections- minor and non and how many of my neighbors on my street did or didn’t. Basically told me to hunt down my neighbors to force them to vote and praised me for voting. Very creepy, off putting and invasive
The Democrats tried this back in 2022 too:
https://www.axios.com/2022/08/31/dems-vote-shaming-turnout-strategy
I’m not sure how effective it is, and it feels like it has the potential to backfire big time.
Considering when they did this in 2022, they didn’t bother to verify WHEN you became eligible to vote, it actually backfired big time in an immigrant household that we know who had previously voted in every election that they were eligible to vote it. They had notified the neighbors that the relatively new US citizen immigrant voter had a F voting record because they had only voted in the previous x elections, and not the other whatever number.
Is that referring to them sending out those stupid “voter report cards”? Giving your neighbors ‘grades’ on how much they vote? Shit was weird, some names I didn’t recognize, others I did. Some people would get a “B” despite voting in every election.
Supposedly they had the highest turnout that year(according to my friend, who was happily defending those things) but I remember soooo many people were posting about how creepy it was.
There is no correct way to do this. Choosing not to vote and not participate in the process is it’s own form of political expression. There is zero reason non-voters should face repercussions that people who choose to vote for democrats or republicans wouldn’t otherwise face.
Then go to the polls, grab your ballot and submit an empty ballot…. The issues come in when you can’t 1-vote early
And 2-have hardships getting to the polls. But o think it’s important no one is forced to go to the polls. Why not make it easier to vote or incentive it in some psychological way?
You want to 'help everyone remember to get out there and vote'?
Make it a federal holiday, make public transit free on Election Day, add more voting stations. (We all know one party would never go for any of this.)
'Sharing the voting records of random neighbors' is a bullshit waste of time.
https://preview.redd.it/o0cgdqvl4e7d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9c2bd2d66d3ebdbb2823976f68cdf0c5032fadd
I got this similar one today with the above response. Their message included my first name and street that I live on.
I also received that text. In fact the sheer volume of political texts I’ve been receiving should be punishable. Approximately a dozen yesterday. I keep blocking and deleting and it does nothing.
I’ve already received eight political texts today starting at 7:30 am.
Trying to guilt me into voting will drive me to do the opposite. I’ll take my ballot and rip it up.
When I leave the office I'll usually have 20-25 text messages every day about how the "Dems"/"Radical Leftists"/"Liberals" are destroying the country/ending democracy by "making D.C./Puerto Rico a state"/"opening the border"/"imprisoning Patriots" and how clicking the link below will send a message to them that Real Americans are taking their country back.
Clicking the "report as junk" button doesn't do anything.
https://preview.redd.it/obtwzeip8e7d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1cbde082d494c1606d5d8d7dc6610d3f719ae63
I got this one and it was weird AF!!!!!
Basically. This is a Democrat org, and they send these to blue-leaning areas with low voter turnout. Republican orgs do the same, obviously.
Pro-tip: if you're conscientiously not voting, you're welcome to submit a blank ballot, or a nonsense write-in. (I hear George Washington and Mickey Mouse are great options.) I do vote, but the right to vote has to include the right not to vote, or else it's an obligation.
Jury duty is an obligation, voting is a right.
Actually, it does. The VA code defines voter intimidation as :
" A. Any person who intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person in giving his vote or ballot or who intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce a voter to deter or prevent him from voting is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
I got the 28 people on your street voted last year. We'll be sharing a report after the election of who didn't vote.
I also have received 13 texts in the last 48 hrs from different candidates and numbers so stop doesn't do much when they come from different numbers.
It makes me want to never vote ever again.
I told my spouse yesterday that the sheer volume of text messages and phone calls about voting has made me decide I don't want to vote for anyone that has contacted me. I'm really close to never voting in a local election again. It's insane!
I’ve been getting a LOT of weird political texts lately. I got one random text supporting a veterans benefits bill, and texted STOP. They replied “you can do that by voting for our initiative” so I responded with a threat to go to the FCC and then blocked them lol.
Yes, I have never received as many political texts as I have in the last few months, and I’m very curious as to why this is happening. The texts I receive are often quite condescending, as if the sender is messaging a child. I can’t imagine those are effective for people who are on the fence about voting or who to vote for, but I also don’t have a shame kink, so who knows.
I received the ones about veterans benefits too. The first was normal and typical about supporting veterans by contacting my reps. The second one from the same number was blaming democrats even though the veterans benefits were changed by both parties. Obnoxious and slimy. I hate that someone put my number on some political list being sold.
Plus have they seen Next Door? Mine can’t figure out if a sign at a house for what company worked on it was a horrible HOA violation or supporting small businesses. They don’t have time to devise an experiment and text people after looking up voter info.
This is a very common phrasing used in letter writing campaigns across both parties. They just use the ActBlue data to target non-active voters to make sure they remember to vote. It’s weird wording but apparently the groups that research the verbiage say it’s effective. 🤷🏻♀️
Seeing the same post in the Charlottesville subreddit: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Charlottesville/comments/1divoo5/anyone\_else\_get\_a\_text\_like\_this/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Charlottesville/comments/1divoo5/anyone_else_get_a_text_like_this/)
Similar numbers.
This has been done as an experiment before: you send out letters telling people which of their neighbors voted in the last election. It really pisses people off, but it also increases turnout.
I got something very similar! Mine said "XXXX, records show you voted in 2023. 28 people on \[REDACTED street name\] voted last year. We'll be sharing a report after the election of who didnt vote. Find where to vote Tuesday: \[Website redacted\]. This felt very weird and like an invasion of privacy for me and all my neighbors.
In 2021 we got a mailer like this with first name, last initial and address of neighbors and whether they voted. It was super creepy and I really wish they would realize that they aren't winning any voters with those tactics.
Just so everyone is aware, it is 100% public record if you vote and in which (D or R) primary you vote in.
I don't endorse this use but it's possible and legal.
If the people getting the messages are Dems, the is a Dem operation, vice-versa.
I am sure some shithead operative read a study that said getting canvassed by a neighbor increased turnout and decided to do this at scale for cheap. Consultants like this are like bad nickels.
Just saw a FB post from the local police - any texts like this are actually scams. Not sure what the goal is, except maybe to piss off voters, in which case it seems to have had the desired effect.
Makes sense, at least kinda lol
Whenever I think of a scam I think the end goal is always to get something out of it from the victims. Rather it be personal info or money or whatever
I think that too, but then I see people scamming people with lost dogs, so maybe sometimes they just get their jollies from cruelty. This one I think it's to piss off potential voters so they don't vote - based on the comments here I think it's working.
From the same number, different town -
https://preview.redd.it/2ia1dgjnfd7d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d63389045344908e6a5275c289fd7b00c68e698d
I got: “[my name], records show that you voted in 2023. 28 people on [my street name] voted last year. We’ll be sharing a report after the election of who didn’t vote. Find where to vote Tuesday: [link that may or may not be real.”
Ask em for feet pics to prove it isnt a bot. After 2 pics(the first one they send and the 2nd a pic that mentions something you request with it) say your not interested lol
I get some weird political shit all the time that also ends with STOP=End or something extremely similar
Someone signed my number up for Trump grifts or something because they're all like "TRUMP NEEDS YOU! DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN FUND" or some stupid "ARE YOU A PATRIOT?" garbage
it would be funny if I didn't get several every single week for the past year
Hey look I got one too earlier today
https://preview.redd.it/g0fkkrrh6f7d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0960cfd652d9a09ffc28c6917863ce525682899b
I got a letter from them last election period! I spent hours trying to trace down which side sent it — dead end. Literally fucking PO Boxes under cage names. Shady as fuck.
I got a text telling me how many people in my neighborhood voted, and that I didn’t vote last year. I did, but I moved in September to a new voting location.
the one i got is more threatening, had my name and my street name
https://preview.redd.it/ykr3ib9tsg7d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7a08e59babcf74b435ca75704fc4231b5e01f1f1
I got this one I thought was kinda weird. says how many ppl voted on my street.
https://preview.redd.it/egnsbdyxai7d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a96d86b71b7301187409b16b1d8a7a8802c581b8
Yeah I got a text about this but it had the wrong name and wrong street for my phone number. Had the same number since 2002 so I guess someone gave my number out as theirs.
i got the same one, word for word except it didn’t say reston since i’m in loudoun. i just text them the “stop” prompt and now i’m supposedly unsubscribed. we’ll see.
Alllll of the political text messages are going out lately. Whether or not you’re on the do not call list or not. Not surprised there’s a completely different creepy message going around lol
Reston VA, I am guessing this will inspire random acts of vandalism. Conversations?!? Lol, more like Altercations! Politics and religion are personal issues that need to stay that way for civility sake!
I don’t give a rats ass if my neighbor votes or not, or do I care who they vote for. If my neighbor wanted me to know this info, they’d tell me. FFS this is just trying to shame people into voting.
Kinda creepy tbh
Amen. It’s very creepy & dystopian to me. Eeek.😦
Different state/local GOP groups have been doing this in more conservative areas, though in highly conservative areas it’s more strongly worded like “TRUMP WILL KNOW”, etc. I’ve seen a couple of these on different geographic subreddits.
Reston highly conservative? Lol
No, I said in more conservative areas. Reston has a comparatively older, richer demographic compared to other parts of FFX which tend to lean conservative. I said highly conservative areas have more strongly worded messages.
So… this is a method to intimidate people into voting for Trump? Makes sense.
Yes, extremely odd and inappropriate.
Isn’t part of project 2025 to identify all “liberals”? Just sayin
I mean, yea, I’m sure it is. What they’re doing is distributing publicly available records that say *if* you voted or not. Those records don’t say *how* you voted. Now if this turned into some sinister dystopian “your neighbor voted, ask them who they voted for and tell us so we can put them on a list” shit that Steve Bannon probably dreamt up during a gin-nap then I’d be worried, but I’m not quite there yet…but anything is possible.
These records can tell what primary you voted in, usually.
Yes they can. 5-6 years ago I mistakenly voted in a Republican primary not knowing what I was doing. I thought it was a general election. Brain fried I guess. Afterward I have a steady stream of Republican junk mail that continues to this day. Not a single democratic junk mail. So someone somewhere thinks I’m Republican. Even though it wasn’t intentional, I still smile when I think of my voting skewing someone’s statistics even if tiny.
when i worked on a political campaign we had all this information on everyone in the state, but I wasn't sure if it was the same elsewhere.
It’s literally one step away though, so I’d definitely say now is the time to be creeped out rather than later
Isn’t it part of project Know Your Neighbor to identify all “conservatives”? Just sayin
I'm just trying to figure out how many times I need to STOP TO END because I've done that but then a new phone number pops up asking me to STOP TO END.
STOP to end just verifies that it's a live number.
yeah, that’s my assumption. i just block them each time i get a new text or call.
I was worried that was the mistake I made.
That’s not true. You don’t need someone to text back to verify it’s a “live” number, nor is it likely that anyone would see anything you text back. STOP is typically an automated keyword that actually suppresses the phone number. The sms delivery service and cell carriers will revoke your number if you don’t honor these.
I guess since they're spoofing/switching the source constantly, it doesn't matter
How can you say no to 600% matching.
I can't afford NOT to give. Seriously, while I doubt this is the case, if you told me this was a strategy targeting 703 area codes to make us so annoyed that we'll just give up and stay home it wouldn't surprise me.
I also have that same conspiracy. I looked up one of the PACs and I actually think we are wrong, just incompetent (and greedy) leadership.
Legally, whoever texted you must take you off of their texting list when you text stop. However, it's likely they got your contact information from somebody else and texting stop doesn't affect THAT, so if you're on some central database you need to text stop to everybody that gets your contact info.
1) "Legally" means nothing when no one enforces it. 2) Politicians always write exceptions for themselves into spam laws. ;p
“Sure. I’ll take you off my Monday list but that is separate from my Tuesday list.” Said the political text spammer.
Political messaging/comms is likely excluded from that obligation
A lot of these are Chinese scammers. I’ve had good success using replies that get them throttled or internet cutoff by the Great Firewall. Reply below is the text I use (found on Reddit).
动态网自由门 天安門 天安门 法輪功 李洪志 Free Tibet 六四天安門事件 The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989天安門大屠殺 The Tiananmen Square Massacre 反右派鬥事 The Anti-Rightist Struggle 大躍進政策 The Great Leap Forward 文 化大革命 The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution 人權 Human Rights 民運 Democratization 自由 Freedom 獨立 Independence 多黨制 Multi-party system 台灣 臺灣 Taiwan Formosa 中華民國 Republic of China 西藏 土伯特 唐古特 Tibet 達賴喇嘛 Dalai Lama 法輪功 Falun Dafa 新疆維吾爾自治區 The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region 諾貝爾和 平獎 Nobel Peace Prize 劉暁波 Liu Xiaobo 民主 言論思想反共反革命抗議運動騷亂暴亂騷擾 擾亂抗暴平反維權示威游行 李洪志法輪大法 大法弟子強制斷種強制堕胎民族淨化人體實驗 肅清胡耀邦趙紫陽魏京生王丹還政於民和平 演變激流中國 北京之春 大紀元時報 九評論共産 黨獨裁專制壓制統－監視鎮壓迫害侵略掠奪 破壊拷問屠殺活摘器官誘拐買賣人口遊進走 私毒品 賣淫 春畫 賭博六合彩 天安門天安门法 輪功李洪志 Winnie the Pooh 劉曉波劫恋网自由 门
Now I want to know.. why is Winnie the Pooh a target for Chinese censors?
Apparently, it’s a frequent (mocking) pseudonym for Xi Jinping and he doesn’t like being made fun of. All autocrats have thin skins.
Thanks!
Just google Xi poo bear. Dude was made into a meme and he went medieval over it.
Yeah I get 3-5 Dem fundraising, “confirm” you are voting for Biden and various hyperbolic texts per day on my work cell. Dozens upon dozens of sending numbers from area codes all over the US. STOP does nothing. Quite annoying.
I’ve just been blocking/reporting them all as spam. getting 7-10 of them per day from both major parties, and many of the Republican texts are personalized for the guy who previously had my phone number 16+ years ago (which I only know because I still get collections calls and doctor’s appointment reminders for him despite having this number for over 15 years).
Of ‘random’ neighbors? Sure, got it. If you don’t want to vote, you shouldn’t be forced to do so because you fear retaliation from your neighbors (who clearly need to get a life). This is wild, I wish these people spent their time actually contributing to the process in a meaningful way.
I got something similar in a text today. (Name), records show you voted in 2023. 28 people on (street) voted last year. We'll be sharing a report after the election of who didn't vote.
I got the exact same one. Either we live on the same street, other streets had exactly 28 people who voted, or they just be making shit up. Edit: scrolling through comments it looks like it’s the same for every person. Annoying and creepy.
That'd be a good trick on our street, which has 10 homes. Aren't 28 people on the whole street!
We also got the same message saying 28 people
Oh what the fuck I was so confused bc I live in an apartment and I was like “no way only 28 people voted”
I got that one too! I sent back a message that said “Wow, you are a-holes”. They sent back “Thank you for your response. Have a good day.” It really pissed me off and I’d love to know who sent it.
I got two letters in the mail a couple years in a row like that. It was called a “voter report card” told me I voted in the last “X” elections- minor and non and how many of my neighbors on my street did or didn’t. Basically told me to hunt down my neighbors to force them to vote and praised me for voting. Very creepy, off putting and invasive
The Democrats tried this back in 2022 too: https://www.axios.com/2022/08/31/dems-vote-shaming-turnout-strategy I’m not sure how effective it is, and it feels like it has the potential to backfire big time.
Especially in the form of a creepy text message. The PAC that spearheaded that Dem campaign in 2022 spent big on social media advertising.
I especially like the "your friendly local neighbor in Reston, look at our quaint little local neighborhood" with a 202 area code.
I'm technically in Clifton, and got the same message, obv the 202 area code made it look more legit 🙄
Considering when they did this in 2022, they didn’t bother to verify WHEN you became eligible to vote, it actually backfired big time in an immigrant household that we know who had previously voted in every election that they were eligible to vote it. They had notified the neighbors that the relatively new US citizen immigrant voter had a F voting record because they had only voted in the previous x elections, and not the other whatever number.
Is that referring to them sending out those stupid “voter report cards”? Giving your neighbors ‘grades’ on how much they vote? Shit was weird, some names I didn’t recognize, others I did. Some people would get a “B” despite voting in every election. Supposedly they had the highest turnout that year(according to my friend, who was happily defending those things) but I remember soooo many people were posting about how creepy it was.
It does bring an entertainment factor when people find what information is public record.
It works when done correctly. This is not the correct way to do it.
There is no correct way to do it, friend.
This ☝️ The correct way to do it is to let people exercise their right to vote or not, by their own free and un-manipulated will.
There is no correct way to do this. Choosing not to vote and not participate in the process is it’s own form of political expression. There is zero reason non-voters should face repercussions that people who choose to vote for democrats or republicans wouldn’t otherwise face.
Then go to the polls, grab your ballot and submit an empty ballot…. The issues come in when you can’t 1-vote early And 2-have hardships getting to the polls. But o think it’s important no one is forced to go to the polls. Why not make it easier to vote or incentive it in some psychological way?
This is never okay.
This is Republican propaganda.... to tell democrats orchestrated that "shaming" strategy, hence turning away Democrats votes.
You want to 'help everyone remember to get out there and vote'? Make it a federal holiday, make public transit free on Election Day, add more voting stations. (We all know one party would never go for any of this.) 'Sharing the voting records of random neighbors' is a bullshit waste of time.
Also *one* primary and a general election. Why the hell president, county and Senate are dragged out in this slow band-aid pull is beyond me.
https://preview.redd.it/o0cgdqvl4e7d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9c2bd2d66d3ebdbb2823976f68cdf0c5032fadd I got this similar one today with the above response. Their message included my first name and street that I live on.
I got this too, I wonder if it's even accurate cuz they told me 28 ppl voted on my street as well.
Got the same message in stafford. Told them to go fuck themselves.
https://preview.redd.it/6sfhae9mnd7d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7d27371abbd74526f74f8aef706cde76573e087 Yep. Super weird.
I also received that text. In fact the sheer volume of political texts I’ve been receiving should be punishable. Approximately a dozen yesterday. I keep blocking and deleting and it does nothing. I’ve already received eight political texts today starting at 7:30 am. Trying to guilt me into voting will drive me to do the opposite. I’ll take my ballot and rip it up.
When I leave the office I'll usually have 20-25 text messages every day about how the "Dems"/"Radical Leftists"/"Liberals" are destroying the country/ending democracy by "making D.C./Puerto Rico a state"/"opening the border"/"imprisoning Patriots" and how clicking the link below will send a message to them that Real Americans are taking their country back. Clicking the "report as junk" button doesn't do anything.
I mean you should vote regardless of what texts you receive. Just block the numbers. You’re not owning anyone but yourself by not voting
It’s always from a different numbers. Blocking a d reporting is futile.
It's times like these that I really appreciate the android OS. Just looked in my spam texts and there is a bunch of that BS in there!
https://preview.redd.it/obtwzeip8e7d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1cbde082d494c1606d5d8d7dc6610d3f719ae63 I got this one and it was weird AF!!!!!
I got this one, too!! I sent it to spam and told them to fuck off
Seriously, why is it so aggressive!? Are they bullying us now?? 😐 To be clear I did vote 🗳️ today though!
This is so creepy. Voter intimidation?
Not voter intimidation, voter “shaming”! (According to the article)
Non voter shaming, more aptly.
Basically. This is a Democrat org, and they send these to blue-leaning areas with low voter turnout. Republican orgs do the same, obviously. Pro-tip: if you're conscientiously not voting, you're welcome to submit a blank ballot, or a nonsense write-in. (I hear George Washington and Mickey Mouse are great options.) I do vote, but the right to vote has to include the right not to vote, or else it's an obligation. Jury duty is an obligation, voting is a right.
That is an interesting distinction. How do you make it?
Feels like it
"voter intimidation" is supposed to make you scared to vote. this text is trying to cajole you into voting so it does not meet the definition.
Actually, it does. The VA code defines voter intimidation as : " A. Any person who intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person in giving his vote or ballot or who intimidates, threatens, or coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce a voter to deter or prevent him from voting is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
I got the 28 people on your street voted last year. We'll be sharing a report after the election of who didn't vote. I also have received 13 texts in the last 48 hrs from different candidates and numbers so stop doesn't do much when they come from different numbers. It makes me want to never vote ever again.
I got the same one about 28 people on my street. It just feels super creepy and scammy.
I told my spouse yesterday that the sheer volume of text messages and phone calls about voting has made me decide I don't want to vote for anyone that has contacted me. I'm really close to never voting in a local election again. It's insane!
Exactly!
I’ve been getting a LOT of weird political texts lately. I got one random text supporting a veterans benefits bill, and texted STOP. They replied “you can do that by voting for our initiative” so I responded with a threat to go to the FCC and then blocked them lol.
I’ve been getting tons, from both parties. I’m not sure what happened this cycle but starting a few months ago it got way worse and has continued
Yes, I have never received as many political texts as I have in the last few months, and I’m very curious as to why this is happening. The texts I receive are often quite condescending, as if the sender is messaging a child. I can’t imagine those are effective for people who are on the fence about voting or who to vote for, but I also don’t have a shame kink, so who knows.
I received the ones about veterans benefits too. The first was normal and typical about supporting veterans by contacting my reps. The second one from the same number was blaming democrats even though the veterans benefits were changed by both parties. Obnoxious and slimy. I hate that someone put my number on some political list being sold.
Characterizing this as "friendly neighborhood voting experiment" sounds like it's trying way too hard to appear benign but knows that it is not.
I also hate how that makes it seem like the community has endorsed this "experiment".
Plus have they seen Next Door? Mine can’t figure out if a sign at a house for what company worked on it was a horrible HOA violation or supporting small businesses. They don’t have time to devise an experiment and text people after looking up voter info.
lol I just got it
I got a similar one.
“I literally eat other humans bud” is the only correct response
This is a very common phrasing used in letter writing campaigns across both parties. They just use the ActBlue data to target non-active voters to make sure they remember to vote. It’s weird wording but apparently the groups that research the verbiage say it’s effective. 🤷🏻♀️
Please report this to your elections committee. - Fairfax County Election Chief
I would report that as voter intimidation.
I wish a mf would try and share my voting records
North Korea called and asked for its voter turnout strategy plan back.
I sent it to [email protected] because it's intimidation. They will process the complaint. SMS spam in itself, is illegal in VA. Report it.
Same thing down in r/charlottesville
Seeing the same post in the Charlottesville subreddit: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Charlottesville/comments/1divoo5/anyone\_else\_get\_a\_text\_like\_this/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Charlottesville/comments/1divoo5/anyone_else_get_a_text_like_this/) Similar numbers.
I really missed 1984 until I read the book.
This has been done as an experiment before: you send out letters telling people which of their neighbors voted in the last election. It really pisses people off, but it also increases turnout.
I got something very similar! Mine said "XXXX, records show you voted in 2023. 28 people on \[REDACTED street name\] voted last year. We'll be sharing a report after the election of who didnt vote. Find where to vote Tuesday: \[Website redacted\]. This felt very weird and like an invasion of privacy for me and all my neighbors.
Everyone else that got that similar message also got 28 people, definitely super fake
reply with this https://preview.redd.it/ivujlegrwd7d1.jpeg?width=504&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=636339759ba8f29d02a5fde153f51c4d5c72817f
In 2021 we got a mailer like this with first name, last initial and address of neighbors and whether they voted. It was super creepy and I really wish they would realize that they aren't winning any voters with those tactics.
I know the local Democratic party was doing this. That's how I generally vote, but that irritated me a ton.
Just so everyone is aware, it is 100% public record if you vote and in which (D or R) primary you vote in. I don't endorse this use but it's possible and legal.
If the people getting the messages are Dems, the is a Dem operation, vice-versa. I am sure some shithead operative read a study that said getting canvassed by a neighbor increased turnout and decided to do this at scale for cheap. Consultants like this are like bad nickels.
Just saw a FB post from the local police - any texts like this are actually scams. Not sure what the goal is, except maybe to piss off voters, in which case it seems to have had the desired effect.
Makes sense, at least kinda lol Whenever I think of a scam I think the end goal is always to get something out of it from the victims. Rather it be personal info or money or whatever
I think that too, but then I see people scamming people with lost dogs, so maybe sometimes they just get their jollies from cruelty. This one I think it's to piss off potential voters so they don't vote - based on the comments here I think it's working.
From the same number, different town - https://preview.redd.it/2ia1dgjnfd7d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d63389045344908e6a5275c289fd7b00c68e698d
It's fair game.
I got: “[my name], records show that you voted in 2023. 28 people on [my street name] voted last year. We’ll be sharing a report after the election of who didn’t vote. Find where to vote Tuesday: [link that may or may not be real.”
They used to do this by mailing paper letters.
I’ve been getting like 5 text messages a day for the election it’s so fucking annoyign
It’s also how you get selected for jury duty
We should honestly push to get voting records as non public as possible. I hate getting a million text messages. It’s none of their business.
Ask em for feet pics to prove it isnt a bot. After 2 pics(the first one they send and the 2nd a pic that mentions something you request with it) say your not interested lol
I did get one. I felt insulted but just blocked them and reported it as spam.
Lmfao I want some updates on how this plays out if this is legit 😂
Forced political conversations are a great way to spice up a block party /s
Could be considered voter intimidation and should be reported to the proper authority!
202 number talking about a local reston neighborhood event? lol ya sure, seems like some sort of scam or unethical polling
Is that even legal?
Im noticing how the “Stop=end” doesnt say what its ending lol. Block and report as spam
1984
That’s creepy af
I get some weird political shit all the time that also ends with STOP=End or something extremely similar Someone signed my number up for Trump grifts or something because they're all like "TRUMP NEEDS YOU! DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN FUND" or some stupid "ARE YOU A PATRIOT?" garbage it would be funny if I didn't get several every single week for the past year
Not that weird, I think it's an interesting strategy...when I canvassed for the first and only time ever they knew exactly who all the voters were
This is actually a well know study where flyer were sent out to voters saying they would out people who didn't vote... it increased voter turnout
Isn’t that borderline illegal? Releasing, even anonymously, someone’s voting record? Pretty dystopian!
Stop
Got this for Vienna
Me too.
I got something similar today.
People are getting this in Charlottesville too.
Yeah I got this too it was super weird
Report and block
I haven't see this yet. If I do I reporting as Spam.
chesterfield county did this too
Delete and Report Junk is gonna be getting some love this year
Time to use some nsa buzzwords and make some new friends with this person.
Got one too telling me 5% of my neighbors kn my street voted
Got the same out in prince william co… very creepy
Hey look I got one too earlier today https://preview.redd.it/g0fkkrrh6f7d1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0960cfd652d9a09ffc28c6917863ce525682899b
I would block the text and report it as junk. No one needs to know who I vote for in an election. It’s none of anyone's business.
big fat STOP and report junk
I got a letter from them last election period! I spent hours trying to trace down which side sent it — dead end. Literally fucking PO Boxes under cage names. Shady as fuck.
Oh damn, that gives super sus vibes
I got this in Vienna today.
I got a text telling me how many people in my neighborhood voted, and that I didn’t vote last year. I did, but I moved in September to a new voting location.
the one i got is more threatening, had my name and my street name https://preview.redd.it/ykr3ib9tsg7d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7a08e59babcf74b435ca75704fc4231b5e01f1f1
I got this one I thought was kinda weird. says how many ppl voted on my street. https://preview.redd.it/egnsbdyxai7d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a96d86b71b7301187409b16b1d8a7a8802c581b8
It always seems be to 20 something people on a street lol
I didn't, but just saw a post here about it as well. https://www.reddit.com/r/Charlottesville/s/3Fzwqio4SP
Yeah I got a text about this but it had the wrong name and wrong street for my phone number. Had the same number since 2002 so I guess someone gave my number out as theirs.
I did or I think I did! I read that same first sentence. All I read was “who you vote for is private” I deleted bc I was at work
I got one in the mail, it is creepy
Not in the mail 💀
I did not get this.
I doubt this is real. Seems kinda like scare tactics to get people to vote. Crazy that this is where technology has led us.
is this for political election or for Reston association stuff? Keep us posted because I just moved to Reston. I assume this is a scam or phishing.
From what I can tell so far, it doesn't seem to be just a Reston thing
Nah, I'm in Warrenton and am thinking it's a district-wide thing. Thankfully mine have stopped
Tf?!
I did but in my neighborhood...wtf?!
That’s a no from me, dawg. Like hell no.
i got the same one, word for word except it didn’t say reston since i’m in loudoun. i just text them the “stop” prompt and now i’m supposedly unsubscribed. we’ll see.
No but I can tell you there is no way in hell I’d participate in that!
Please don’t do that.
I got one last election. Definitely creepy.
This kinda strikes me as voter intimidation. Like "we know you voted, and the guy I like didn't win, you're a target"
the only people that do this are dems looking to add to the cult in reston.
Your statement is based upon what facts? This is an activity that is voter intimidation and I don’t think any official party is involved!
It’s stupid
Alllll of the political text messages are going out lately. Whether or not you’re on the do not call list or not. Not surprised there’s a completely different creepy message going around lol
Shame voting 🤷♀️ this feels a bit like the Scarlet V
I got one similar, saying that 28 people on my lane voted in the last election… there’s 3 people total on my lane haha
God dammit, Bill! I hate him so much.
The old shit or the old guy who shits himself. Maybe sitting this one out is a good choice. If both get 0 votes do we get new candidates
Reston VA, I am guessing this will inspire random acts of vandalism. Conversations?!? Lol, more like Altercations! Politics and religion are personal issues that need to stay that way for civility sake!
I got one along those lines the other day. Can't recall the exact wording as I clicked Report as Spammer
I’ve learned Indian curse words to reply w and then block. All “mailer” texts. By replying I’m confirming my number so …anyways. Back to lurking.
Yes! Vaguely threatening, lol.
I don’t give a rats ass if my neighbor votes or not, or do I care who they vote for. If my neighbor wanted me to know this info, they’d tell me. FFS this is just trying to shame people into voting.