Update: Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen issued the following statement in response to a press release issued on March 25, 2024 by the Voter Participation Center regarding the misleading, unsolicited mailers targeting Alabama mailboxes.
“The response issued by the Voter Participation Center and Center for Voter Information fails to refute and, in fact, advances our position that these groups are using targeted, partisan tactics. The claim that these groups are nonpartisan is false and is completely contradicted when the groups publicly reveal their targeted demographic to be primarily Democratic voter blocks.
As Secretary of State, I want all eligible Alabamians, not just specific voter blocks, to be able to register to vote using the proper channels. These groups’ unsolicited efforts to advance a political agenda directly contradict this ideal and are not welcome in Alabama.
Further, I would like to make very clear that the only “misleading and alarming” message to Alabama citizens has been at the hands of VPC and CVI. VPC and CVI are unable to deny the instances of errors in their mailers and, in fact, instruct the Alabama citizens who will inevitably receive inaccurately pre-filled mailers to discard them.
Trusted voter registration can be found online at www.AlabamaVotes.gov. This Office and the Boards of Registrars in all 67 counties are here to assist eligible Alabama citizens in the process of registering to vote.”
Montgomery, AL – Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen has issued a warning to citizens regarding a potentially misleading mass mailing of pre-filled voter registration forms targeting Alabama mailboxes. The mailer, which is not affiliated with the State of Alabama, has been officially discouraged by the Office of the Secretary of State.
The Voter Participation Center and Center for Voter Information, identified as the groups behind the mass mailing, have indicated their intent to send at least two waves of pre-filled voter registration forms to Alabama citizens, starting as early as this month. Despite their intentions, the Secretary of State has expressed strong objections to these efforts, citing the confusion they could create.
Secretary Allen emphasized the nature of the issue, stating, “On two occasions, this Office was contacted on behalf of Voter Participation Center and Center for Voter Information regarding a mailer they planned to send to Alabama citizens. In response, I strongly discouraged the group’s plan to mass mail our citizens.” He further criticized the targeted and partisan interference by out-of-state organizations, deeming it unnecessary, confusing, and counterproductive.
Instances of incorrect pre-filled voter registration forms being sent to Alabama residents in previous election cycles have prompted concerns. Secretary Allen assured citizens that the Office of the Secretary of State and local election officials are well-prepared to handle voter registration matters within Alabama. He urged citizens to rely on trusted sources for voter registration and election information, directing them to the official website of the Secretary of State for accurate guidance.
Eligible Alabama citizens are reminded that they can register to vote online through the official portal www.AlabamaVotes.gov or by mailing a voter registration form to their local Board of Registrars. Secretary Allen emphasized the importance of utilizing these established channels to ensure accurate and reliable voter registration processes.
Tom Lopach, President and CEO of VPC and CVI stated to the Calhoun Journal,
“In a press release issued today, the Alabama Secretary of State grossly mischaracterized the essential work that we do to register eligible Americans to vote. The goal of the Voter Participation Center (VPC) and Center for Voter Information (CVI) is to register and turn out eligible voters in Alabama. This is non-partisan work and its aim is one that all election administrators should support. This is about bringing democracy to eligible American’s doorsteps.
VPC and CVI focus largely on underrepresented populations – people of color, young people, and unmarried women. Since 2003, VPC and CVI have helped more than 6.1 million people register to vote. Our mail programs have a tangible and positive impact on the voters, and on representative democracy. In Alabama alone, VPC and CVI will be sending out more than 138,000 pieces of mail.
Eligible Alabamians can simply fill out the state voter registration form, sign it, and mail in their voter registration application. VPC and CVI use the very same voter registration forms used by county election officials, and as stated by Secretary of State Allen, we provide sample letters to state election officials months before the mailers go out. If an individual receives our mailer and is already registered to vote, they can simply discard it. We make this clear in the letter that voters receive from our organizations.
Our hope is that all election officials will support our efforts to promote democracy, instead of misleading and alarming voters about our effective and non-partisan voter registration programs. ”
As Alabama gears up for upcoming elections, Secretary Wes Allen’s cautionary message serves as a reminder for citizens to exercise vigilance and rely on verified sources for their voter registration needs, safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process within the state.
