Rekna

Voter caging has been a common tactic in past elections to suppress certain voters. Recently it has come to light that the GOP is planning on using forecloser lists to prevent people from voting. The logic is if they don't have that house anymore then there registration isn't valid and thus can't vote. Another method of caging is to send out a mass priority mailing to a certain demographic with the instructions "Do not forward". If the person is not there to get the mail (say they are at work and can't sign for it or are on vacation) then there name is placed on a list of people who will be caged. If you happen to be on a caging list when you go to vote you will be met with someone saying you are not eligible to vote and you will have to vote on a provisional ballot and then prove you are eligible to vote in the next couple days. The idea is that many people won't challenge it either because they don't care or don't have time and their vote will not be counted.

Recently the McCain campaign sent out a letter "verifying people were registered as a Republican" in Florida. This letter had do not forward instructions on it and it was sent to registered democrats. It looks like letter will likely end up creating caging lists. This is a tactic that has been primary used by the GOP and there have been cases where the GOP has accidentally leaked some of its caging plans. For more information see the wikipedia entry on caging lists.


What do you think of this practice? Personally I think it should be illegal. I have no problem with stopping fraudulent voters but I feel this practice prevents more legal voters than illegal voters. The big problem is that this is only done in certain demographics. If the GOP thinks voter caging is fine then they should be forced to do it to every person and not just the ones that fit in a demographic that is not favorable to them.