'Don’t believe the lies': Robocalls Tell Michiganders To Vote Tomorrow

Today is Election Day.

Voters can’t cast ballots tomorrow, contrary to what a robocall is apparently telling some Michigan residents.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel took to social media on Tuesday morning (November 3) to make sure that voters know that the robocall is fake, and not to trust that ballots can be cast after Election Day. She urged other Twitter users to retweet her message to help spread the word.

“Getting reports of multiple robocalls going to Flint residents that, due to long lines, they should vote tomorrow,” Nessel said. “Obviously this is FALSE and an effort to suppress the vote. No long lines and today is the last day to vote. Don’t believe the lies! Have your voice heard! RT PLS.”

Nessel previously filed felony charges against two men — Jack Burkman of Virginia and Jacob Wohl of California — who were allegedly behind another set of robocalls aiming to suppress Detroit voters, the Detroit News reported October 1.

“Any effort to interfere with, intimidate or intentionally mislead Michigan voters will be met with swift and severe consequences,” Nessel said in a statement at that time. “This effort specifically targeted minority voters in an attempt to deter them from voting in the November election."

The latest robocalls come as Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is warning Michiganders that voter intimidation is illegal, calling the act of instilling fear in voters as they weigh in on important elections "antithetical to everything our democracy stands for."

Many Michigan voters are headed to the polls on Election Day, but millions also opted for absentee ballots, especially with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Election officials are bracing for the influx of mail-in ballots and encouraging the public to be patient as officials count results.

"We've been working round-the-clock to process absentee applications and send out ballots," Hamtramck City Clerk August Gitschlag said during a Zoom meeting between local officials on October 22. "But we don't have the infrastructure to keep up with the overwhelming demand. We will count every vote, but being right is more important than being fast. I want to urge everyone to please be patient."

Photo: Getty Images