Image: Father Theo's Blog

Today is primary day in Wisconsin for the six state Senate seats where incumbent Republicans face recalls. In an attempt to delay the process, drain Democratic resources, and potentially even avoid the recalls altogether, local Republicans are running fake Democrats in the primaries. In fact, they are even conducting get out the vote work on behalf of those fake candidates.

Additionally, it now appears that at least one conservative group is running robocalls telling registered Democrats not to vote at all in the primaries because, supposedly, an "absentee ballot is in the mail." It's blatant voter suppression:

Registered Democrats from all over the district [District 10, Moore vs. Harsdorf] are reporting the same thing. They are receiving a robocall from a group claiming to be a Right to Life group explaining that they don’t have to go to the polling station to vote, “You don’t need to worry. Your absentee ballot is in the mail.” This is NOT true. Today, Tuesday July 12, is the last day to vote in the Democratic Primary. You DO NOT have time to mail in your ballot at this point. If you intend to vote, go to your nearest polling station today to vote or to deliver your absentee ballot in person.

Here is a report from a local:

I received a call late yesterday from this so-called “Right to Life” group. Very strange. Sunday morning received the first of several robo calls promoting their fake candidate Isaac Weix — untraceable number, caller “out of my area” message. Three “missed calls” too, no message. More robo calls? Ten years ago, Republicans turned me from a weak Independent into a well-informed Democrat. So, I’ll be voting for Shelly Moore today, and future dates are already marked on my calendar.

More:

“Just got a recorded phone call from VIRGINIA from the right to life people, saying that they would be mailing me an absentee ballot, for the upcoming recall elections, within the next few days and they would appreciate it if I would sign it and return it within the next five days! WHAT THE HECK IS THAT ALL ABOUT! I’m pretty sure that if I need an absentee ballot that I have to get it from my town clerk…..the recording said that if I had questions, I could reach the right to life offices at 877-855-5007. The phone call came from 703-410-3201.” [this note is from a district 30 resident]

As the list of Republican dirty tricks continues to pile up in the Wisconsin recall elections, you have to wonder if there is any tactic so disgusting that even they would consider it beyond the pale.

Update: More info in this from blue cheddar:

From an anonymous source on tumblr: ‘Why are you lying about Wisconsin Right to Life telling people not to vote. The entire script says: “Hello, this is Barbara Lyons from Wisconsin Right to Life. I’m calling today to let you know that you will be receiving an absentee ballot application for the upcoming recall elections in the mail in the next few days. These recall elections are very important and voting absentee will ensure that your vote is counted and that we can maintain a pro-family, pro-life state senate. We hope that we can count on you to complete that application and send it back to us within 7 days.”‘ I am being called a liar for taking to task an organization that is obscuring the truth: calling people to send them an absentee ballot the day before a make or break election which pits a real Democrat against a fake one. Whomever gets through this election faces off with the Republican. If the real Dem does not make it, they’re history. This election day is critical. Assuming that this is an accurate call script, there is no integrity in the Wisconsin Right to Life organization. This tactic makes a mockery of Wisconsin democracy.

Indeed. It's confusing as all hell to telling voters who either did not request an absentee ballot, or who already received their absentee ballot, that their absentee ballot application is in the mail. Doing so during the two days before an election is even worse. This is confusing voters, whether intentionally or not.