The Government Accountability Board is up to its old tricks and is once again disingenuously confusing would-be voters. In a shameless scheme to undermine the voting system and to trick potential voters, the GAB mailed out a series of misleading postcards to Wisconsin residents who have not voted in the past four years. These postcards claimed if residents do not respond to the postcard in 30 days, they will be promptly removed from the voter registration list, making it more difficult for them to vote, encouraging them not to vote and potentially disenfranchising thousands within the state.

Ironically, these un-democratic postcards were released in compliance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002. HAVA was passed to ensure voters of all backgrounds have equal access to the polls and to voting stations. While HAVA does specify all states must create an updated polling list to receive funding, it is up to the states as to how they should execute this. Leave it to the GAB to misinterpret HAVA and in a feeble attempt to keep up with legislation, go against everything it stands for. HAVA was put in effect to create a fair and accessible voting system so all citizens would be able to exercise their rights as voters. Funny enough, HAVA says nothing about implementing scare tactics as a way to recruit voters. The GAB has misread legislation meant to bring voters to the polls, and as a result they are scaring voters away.

Although the GAB suggests they are not aiming to disenfranchise voters, one must wonder if they have ulterior motives. In an official letter sent out by the GAB, it is noted that the “mailing [of the postcards] is not designed to keep any active voter’s name off the poll list.” Although they claim to be keeping voters’ interests in mind, the GAB appears to be clearing out the poll list by sending out intimidating postcards to voters who haven’t taken an interest in the political system for upwards of four years. These postcards are as discouraging as they are confusing to the 313,205 Wisconsin citizens these were mailed to — primarily older citizens likely to misread the postcards and think they are no longer eligible to vote. With an elitist attitude, it appears as though the GAB is attempting to rid the system of a surplus of non-voters rather than convince voters to take an active interest in Wisconsin politics.

This legislation has a number of potential negative side effects. If voters do not respond to the postcards within 30 days and are in fact removed from the Voter Registration System, they will no longer be reflected in Wisconsin voting statistics, which could have lasting effects on the voting system as a whole. Because they are not reflected in the numbers, politicians are less likely to take these citizens into account, thus their needs will be neglected. While, luckily, Wisconsin is one of the eight states in which voters can register the day of the election, there are further barriers to voting under this ridiculous initiative, as those who have managed not to get discouraged by the GAB likely will be upon learning they have to step into another line to re-register so they can cast their ballots. By making what should be a friendly and easy process increasingly difficult and complex, the GAB is driving away voters.

The GAB and others are seemingly looking to purge the voting system. Nat Robinson, the elections division administrator, said the postcards are sent out to “purge the system” of deceased voters and those who have moved away, which he claimed was to better create a more accurate polling list. With this interesting choice of words, Nat Robinson has summed it up: The GAB is not looking to reach potential voters, but rather to get rid of them.

When asked about the wording of the postcards, Robinson simply replied he hoped the postcards worried voters so they would have reason to act. Unfortunately for the GAB, threatening voters is no way to get them to go along with your propositions. Rather, it will likely have adverse effects, and voters who are already fed up with the system (for example: Voters who have not voted in the past four years) will find it just as easy to throw away the postcard and forget about the entire system. The GAB is naively taking the wrong approach to “voter friendly” and is creating an unhealthy voting environment for everyone.

Emily Osborne ([email protected]) is a freshman intending to major in journalism.