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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGOP To Iowans: Your Neighbors Will Know If You Don’t Vote Republican
Source: Think Progress
The GOP is trying to convince Iowa voters on Facebook that their neighbors will know if they voted Republican.
Screenshots of Facebook ads, promoted by the official Facebook page of the Republican National Committee feature an ominous message: NOTICE: All Voting Is Public. The ad tell voters that In a few months, Iowa will release the list of individual who voted in this election. Most troublingly, the ad includes an arial view of a neighborhood with checkmarks indicating that These People Voted GOP.
It is true that voter participation in elections in public information. But how a someone voted, including what party they voted for, is not. The secret ballot has long been considered a hallmark of American democracy.
The ad is a variation of a GOTV (Get Out The Vote) strategy called vote shaming. The tactic is employed by liberals and conservatives to use social psychology to increase the chances that people vote. In every state but Virginia, whether or not you participated in an election is public. If you publicize something, it has a very powerful effect on behavior, Chris Larimer, an Iowa political scientist, told USA Today in 2012.
Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/election/2014/10/31/3587414/iowa-republican-facebook-ads/
louis-t
(23,266 posts)being a Republican.
DocMac
(1,628 posts)won't even admit it anymore. They are toxic and they know it.
they call themselves independent in public, they'll mouth every republican talking point then swear that they're not.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)I have a perfect voting attendance record.
It may move people's voting behavior, but it still feels creepy.
3catwoman3
(23,943 posts)...knows no bounds. Utterly despicable.
Rex
(65,616 posts)waiting for a chance to defile the nation.
bulloney
(4,113 posts)We just let them in this country and they've infiltrated our system to where it is today. Instead of Nazis, they call themselves Republicans and Teabaggers.
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)I don't care if my neighbors know. One is head of the local Tea Party. She definitely knows I'm not a Republican.
My kids look at the ceiling when I start talking politics. It isn't that they aren't Democratic, but because they don't want to hear all that is going on between the parties.
Fire away! I voted straight Democratic and proud of it. Idiots!
littlewolf
(3,813 posts)The New York State Democratic Committee is bullying people into voting next week with intimidating letters warning that it can easily find out which slackers fail to cast a ballot next Tuesday.
Who you vote for is your secret. But whether or not you vote is public record, the letter says.
We will be reviewing voting records .?.?. to determine whether you joined your neighbors who voted in 2014.
It ends with a line better suited to a mob movie than a major political party: If you do not vote this year, we will be interested to hear why not.
more at the link.
stupidity isn't always limited by party.
HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)Their argument is it works. It might, but it feels creeeeeeeepy
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)daleanime
(17,796 posts)but not quite the same.
Still creepy.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)From your description, it sounds like the New York Democratic mailer includes the very pertinent bit of information that "Who you vote for is your secret." While the Iowa Republican mailer doesn't come right out and say that your vote will be revealed, it's strongly implied, and the text coupled with the photo seems to say that in addition to whether someone voted, how that person voted will be known as well.
That specification by the Democrats that your vote is secret makes all the difference.
In my analysis, though, it seems that the Republicans are trying to blunt a technique found so effective by researchers ("vote shaming" . The low information voter is the Republicans' friend.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Treant
(1,968 posts)Thanks for telling me which neighbors voted Republican. I know who I won't be inviting to the Christmas party.
rufus dog
(8,419 posts)Only if you voted. Thom Hatmann argued this is a good thing. Studies show it increases turnout. Increased turnout favors Dems.
Now what the Iowa GOP is doing is trying to intimidate people to vote for the GOP, not to vote.
Oilwellian
(12,647 posts)Hartmann posted this on FB the other day:
Election season is full of surprises. As a registered (but essentially skeptical) Democrat and former campaign worker, Im used to seeing odd, sometimes aggressive or misleading messaging strategies and get-out-the-vote tactics.
Still, imagine my surprise to open my mailbox on Wednesday night to this bizarre, hostile letter from the New York State Democratic Committee, the very people Im supposed to be voting for on November 4.
Our records indicate that you are registered in New York County. Who you vote for is your secret. But whether or not you vote is public record. Many organizations monitor turnout in your neighborhood and are disappointed by the inconsistent voting of many of your neighbors.
We will be reviewing the New York County official voting records after the upcoming election to determine whether you joined your neighbors who voted in 2014. If you do note vote this year, we will be interested to hear why not.
I guess, given the fact that the mailers have proven utility, Democrats that complain about them might be being a little hypocritical. Still, its a little disturbing that New York Democrats feel the need to pull a tactic straight from the dark side: THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS WATCHING. THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS EYES EVERYWHERE.
http://thedailybanter.com/2014/10/new-york-democrats-threatening/
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)rufus dog
(8,419 posts)In CA we sign to get a ballot. Then another person gives us a ballot.
TexasTowelie
(111,894 posts)Usually larger houses belong to wealthier people who tend to vote Republican so I guess that I'm not shocked if that is a GOP neighborhood.
47of74
(18,470 posts)You hear that Iowa GOP? I don't fucking care if you know that I voted Democratic. I don't fucking care if everyone I know knows that I voted straight Democratic. I don't care how many dumb fuck teabaggers come out of the woodwork, I am not ashamed of my vote and you can go straight to hell.
cyberswede
(26,117 posts)Blue Owl
(50,236 posts)n/t
giftedgirl77
(4,713 posts)I would hate for my house to ever be labeled as voting for those assholes. This looks like an ad to prove you're not a moron & if you live there it's time to move.
KMOD
(7,906 posts)In the 70s, One of my Uncles used to plead to my mother before every election, "You have to vote Republican, or I will lose my job".
Pathetic. All of it.
Samantha
(9,314 posts)even the Republicans. I wear my DU sweatshirt outside when I mow the lawn!
Sam