What is Voter Caging?
Voter caging is a notorious voter suppression technique used to challenge the registration status of eligible voters to prevent him or her from voting in an election
Usually, caging occurs when an official-looking, non-forwardable piece of mail is sent to a group of registered voters, often to minorities and students. The parties involved in caging then compile a list of voters whose mail was returned as undeliverable. On Election Day, these organizations will use the undeliverable mail to challenge voters at the polls, utilizing law enforcement and attorneys to support their challenges.
The goal of caging is two-fold. First, is to force as many voters as possible to cast provisional ballots, which require voters to follow-up the day after an election for the ballot to be counted. Historically, about 35% of all provisional ballots are never counted. Additionally, voters whose registration is challenged at the polling place are unlikely to have the required material to complete an Election Day registration, meaning the voter will be turned away at the polls.
The second goal is to create long lines at the polling place as the caging operation challenges voter after voter. Many people cannot afford to sit in line to vote for hours on end. Long lines discourage voters and many simply leave without casting a ballot.
Voter caging is a violation of the National Voter Rights Act of 1993 and is illegal.
The Evidence
Read the documents
Documents detailing voter suppression plan
Transcript of Tea Party meeting audio
Hear the audio
Download the audio of the Tea Party meeting
Read the Requests for Investigation
Who's Involved
Republican Party of WI
WISGOP will allegedly provide training for 'poll watchers' and an army of lawyers to support the caging efforts. WISGOP would also allegedly provide the voter database to create the caging list.
Americans for Prosperity
AFP of Wisconsin will allegedly provide the funding for the mailer to be sent to voters targeted for caging.
WI Tea Party Groups
Various Tea Party groups would provide volunteers who will act as poll watchers on Election Day.
Take Action
demand an investigation
Stand up for voter rights and add your voice to the call for a full investigation into the alleged voter caging plot by the Republican Party of Wisconsin, Americans for Prosperity, and the Tea Party.