The animosity and anger ahead of the November US presidential election will soon turn toward violence and absolute civil unrest. I will not mention the name of the application, but perhaps some of our US readers have received texts or emails urging them to sign up. While it is illegal to see who someone voted for in the election, whether someone voted or not is public record.
“Do some snooping…Check up on your friends, boyfriend, hookup, or whoever you want with this link. Friends don’t let friends skip elections!” the message repeats. The creators are primarily targeting young voters with the illusion that this is some just social cause. In all reality, this program borders on voter intimidation and relies on the public’s persistence to force others to think as they do.
“Data is sourced from publicly available voter registration data provided by the state. Data will be updated as it comes in before and after the Nov 5, 2024 election. Friends don’t let friends forget to vote!” the program states, adding elsewhere, “Your friends, partner, boss, ex and neighbor can all see whether or not you voted. But who you voted for will always be secret.”
This is reminiscent of the hotlines that were established during COVID by state governments. They too relied on neighbors turning against one another. The government has effectively created division among the people.
Party affiliations are public record. People can see if you are currently or once aligned with the Democrats or Republicans. The public can also see if you do not vote at all. I have spoken to several people who said they were once moderate or liberal but plan to vote for Donald Trump. Everyone in that category has also expressed concerns about what their peers will think, and some question whether their relationships with others will deteriorate all due to politics. Not only will civil unrest happen on a mass scale, but we will once again see families and communities torn apart by divisive politics.
