Thousands of US voters in Wisconsin receive threatening text messages about the election

Many voters in the US state of Wisconsin last week received a number of text messages asking them to “not vote where you are not eligible.”

CNN cited a letter sent to US law enforcement officials by the nonprofit Free Speech For People on October 15, saying that thousands of Wisconsin voters received anonymous text messages last week threatening and discouraging them from voting. “Warning, violations of sections 12.13 and 6.18 of the Wisconsin Statutes may result in a $10,000 fine or up to 3.5 years in prison. Do not vote in states where you are not eligible,” an anonymous text message read.

Content of the threatening text message. Photo: Free Speech For People

It is known that the two provisions 12.13 and 6.18 in the anonymous text message above mention the law governing residents of the state of Wisconsin related to absentee voting, as well as the consequences of fraud in elections. However, the latter part of the message above, the content “Do not vote,” has raised concerns among voter protection groups. Because according to the argument of these groups, it is “intimidating, causing many young voters to not dare to vote out of fear.” The group of people who received the above messages are all young people between the ages of 18 and 25, including members of the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and many voters who are part of the University of Wisconsin system.

Photo illustration: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“These messages are trying to convince students who live in Wisconsin that they don’t have the right to vote there,” Free Speech For People director Courtney Hostetler told CNN. Free Speech For People and the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin have asked law enforcement to investigate the origin of the messages, identify the parties responsible and bring them to justice.

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Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/hang-nghin-cu-tri-my-o-bang-wisconsin-nhan-tin-nhan-de-doa-ve-bau-cu-2332330.html