Voter intimidation is on the rise in Bucks County as reports emerge of unsolicited calls and texts to residents allegedly from a dubious group identifying themselves as "Voter Protection," according to the Bucks County Board of Elections. The calls, originating from outside Bucks County area codes, claim false discrepancies in voter information, wrongly assert individuals are not registered, or say that mail-in ballots would be withheld due to ID issues.
Local authorities are on high alert, dispelling the misinformation and reassuring the public these communications are neither official nor connected to Bucks County's electoral body. The verified method of outreach is through the "County of Bucks" caller ID, 215-348-6000, or official USPS mail, as per the board's norms. Concerned citizens who reported these incidents were relieved to find no discrepancies in their voter records or the tallying of their votes, indicating this was a targeted misinformation campaign to create unease among voters.
With the integrity of democratic processes at stake, Bucks County Board of Elections Chairman Bob Harvie issued a stern warning to the bad actors, saying, "This is yet another attempt to sow confusion, distrust, and misinformation in our election process and disenfranchise duly registered voters," affirming a robust response and referral of the incident to the District Attorney's office. The county's efforts remain steadfast to ensure the right to vote is guarded and accessible, with Harvie adding, "Voters will not be threatened on my watch."
Residents of Bucks County are encouraged to exercise caution. Anyone who encounters such suspect messages or any election communication that feels intimidating or fraudulent should promptly report to the Board of Elections at 215-348-6154.
