Something fishy is going on in southern California

[nichomachus]

I'm registered as an independent.

Yesterday, I was working at my desk (at home) on something pretty complicated, which was driving me nuts.

The phone rang. Caller ID said "Unavailable." Usually, I ignore those, but a friend is traveling in Europe and calls me on Skype and that's how it shows up on caller ID. So, I answered.

A woman asked for me by name. I acknowledged her. She said "I'm working with the voter list and I want to know if you're going to vote Republican in November."

I'm usually sharper than this, but I was engrossed in a complex project and I had been expecting my friend's voice. So, like a fool, I answered her. I said "No way."

She said "Then I will list you as a Democrat."

I said, "No, I am an independent." She said, "So you're undecided." I said "No, I am an independent and I'm not voting for McCain and Palin."

She said, "Well, then you're a Democrat."

I said a few choice words and then hung up.

Afterward, I wished I hadn't -- actually, I wished I had gotten more information from her before exchange started. I usually do that.

But then I began wondering whether this wasn't some scam to get people to think that if they don't agree to vote for McCain, their registration will be changed to Democratic. She didn't say she worked for the registrar of voters, but she kind of left that impression. We have a lot of elderly in our area who could be very confused by this.

I've already contacted the state Democratic Party about this -- because we recently had a scam where people were registered as Republicans without their knowledge and consent. Of course, our Republican election officials did nothing about it.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. How do you know that your name wasn't purged b/c you didn't say

you would vote republican?

I'd check with your county office of elections.

[wildeyed]

Sounds like a rep leaning group was targeting voters for persuasion.

I have done calls like this for our side. First pass, you call and ask who they are voting for. If they say strong your side or strong the other side, you drop them form the list. Undecideds and leaners are targeted for persuasion and receive calls, etc. down the line trying to convince them to decide for their guy.

This might have been a badly trained volunteer trying to ID you for their persuasion list. I remember getting screened by a rep group in 2000, and the guy rudely hung up on me when I said I was in the bag for the dems already.

[RufusTFirefly]

6. Sounded slimier to me

Almost a hybrid of push-polling and caging.

[blm]

2. Something similar happened to me last week in NC.

Odd type of survey from Republican poll taker.

[AtomicKitten]

3. And the GOP reinder games begin.

[rvablue]

4. Double check your registration and report this to the Obama campaign.

The tone of it sounds off from your typical "looking for supporters" call.

[Retrograde]

5. tell 'em you're voting for Nader

or Barr. Maybe, just maybe, if they start reporting 3rd party candidates it may scare some of the "they're all the same" voters in swing states to the polls.

You may also want to contact the CA Sec of State: she's responsible for election integrity. And she's a Democrat.