Fake e-mail could mislead voters

[daleo]

"Elections Canada is worried that voters could be led astray by a bogus e-mail doing the rounds, which purports to be from the country's top election official.

Bearing the agency's logo and the name Jean-Pierre Kingsley, chief electoral officer, the e-mail says people can vote on two days – Monday and Tuesday.

That's not correct; "the only polling day is Monday, Jan. 23," Elections Canada said in a statement posted on the weekend on its website."

"The agency also said there have been reports that some candidates' materials listed incorrect information about the addresses and voting hours for polling stations."




http://www.cbc.ca/story/canadavotes2006/national/2006/01/22/fake-votes060122.html

Sounds like some dirty tricks are afoot.

[ClusterFreak]

1. Something similar happened in the U.S. in '04.....

Wasn't it in Ohio or something? A bunch of flyers (a bunch...I dunno, a shitload??)...anyway...lots of flyers were sent around to poor black neighbourhoods suggesting the election had been postponed, or the date had been changed in some way.

[daleo]

2. I think this has been used in the U.S. in various places

Basically, the intent has been to suppress turnout in the opponent's stronghold. I have heard of it most often being used by Republicans to suppress the vote in African American districts, on the theory that they vote mostly for Democrats. That's what I have read - I don't know how firm the evidence base for the claim is.

There was supposed to be more American help for the Conservatives this time around, so this makes you think.