Posted on 08/03/2006 11:35:44 AM PDT by WmShirerAdmirer
It's a case of too much information. Just in time for the Aug. 8 election, some area residents have received details about their neighbors past voting habits through the mail.
An East Lansing-based political consultant named Mark Grebner has been studying methods that encourage residents to vote statewide.
On July 27, he mailed out lists of area voters which showed whether or not those residents had voted in previous elections.
For example, one homeowner on Berwick Street in Livonia received a list of about 21 other Berwick Street residents which designated whether those people voted in August 2004 and November 2004.
According to Grebner's Web site the ETOV (that's "vote" spelled backwards) project tests whether messages like this mailer will influence registered voters to get out to the polls on Aug. 8.
In Livonia, where this year's election date marks a contentious decision on the recall of five Livonia Board of Education trustees, the mailer is causing a stir.
"I could use expletives but I'm not gonna. I'm really angry," said Mary Jane Larson of Livonia.
The idea of people being dragged or shamed to the voting booth is "a Taliban tactic," she said, adding that she called her attorney.
Livonia City Clerk Val Vandersloot said Wednesday she'd received at least a dozen complaints from residents about the mailer. She suggested citizens who are not in favor of this information being mailed out should contact their state senator, as it is an issue related to the Freedom of Information Act.
According to Grebner's Web site, www.grebner.com/etov, those interested in being taken off of the list should send an e-mail to ETOV@Grebner.com, leave a message at (517) 351-1975, or mail those requests to: ETOV, Post Office Box 6249, East Lansing, MI 48826.
Calls made to Grebner for this story were not returned. Details online describe the ETOV project as one which is "not intended to influence any election, other than possibly increasing the general turnout." It also indicated that results from previous ETOV studies can be obtained by sending e-mail to Mark.Grebner@GMail.com.
I guess they have a choice and can get all wrapped up in government red tape before this infringement on their right to privacy is stopped.
http://ingham.org/BC/Commissioners/pages/District10.htm
Did the information somehow say who the people voted for? I'm not up on voting laws but if it is public record then I don't know what the problem is. I'm sure someone on FR can clarify all this.
Actually I would think it rather funny to find out that "Joe Blow constant complainer" hasn't voted in years.
Agreed. Voting history (which elections you filed a ballot in, even if a blank ballot) is public.
You can go to city hall and look it up, or buy a CD.
You can't use the data for commercial purposes.
Some states have better or worse histories, but most have it.
That database is also real handy in finding certain kinds of vote fraud, but that's another story.
Which elections you have voted in are a matter of public record in most states. In Dallas County, Texas, some group used to put it on the internet.
They quit updating it some time back, and it looks like they have given up on the project now, but you used to be able to see what elections Ross Perot participated in, for example.
http://www.openrecords.org/records/voting/dallas_voting/
Interesting, thanks for this information.
Thanks for asking the question, I had fortgotten about public reconds.
You know what's interesting about this? Not that voting records are being used--hell, I use 'em for the GOP. What I find really interesting is that Mark Grebner is here referred to as a political consultant, but there is no mention made of his also being an Ingham County Commissioner. Any not just any moonbat dem, typical of our area. Grebner is a freak.
Thanks for this pertinent information, otherwise we'd never know.
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