VoteFTW is a left-of-center advocacy firm that that engages in voter outreach and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) operations while being described by local media outlets as a “national progressive advocacy group.” First formed in 2023, the firm’s website contains limited information other than services offered. In June 2024, the firm was accused of sending out text messages to registered voters in the New York State Democratic primaries containing incorrect polling location information within Albany and Onondaga counties. ¹ The group was also accused of a similar situation during the 2023 Wisconsin primaries. Little information is present on the firm’s operations or groups and individuals associated with it. ^{1 2}

Background

VoteFTW appears to have begun operation in 2023. The group operates as a left-of-center political consulting firm focusing on voter outreach and get-out-the-vote efforts. The group was active in several Democratic primaries in 2023 and 2024 while providing polling information to targeted voters, which generated significant controversy and accusations of voter scams due to incorrect polling information. ^{3 1 2}

According to the organization’s website, the services offered by the firm include voter registration, voting by mail, voting at the polls, and voter education. The firm’s website also states that its activities include “making the process of voting as clear and easy as possible by letting people know about different election deadlines, showing them their polling locations, helping them to register to vote, helping them to vote by mail, and directing them to the polls on election day.” ³

Controversy

2024 New York Democratic Primaries

In June 2024, VoteFTW received controversy for sending out a series of text messages with incorrect polling information to registered Democrat voters for the New York state Democratic primaries in Albany and Onondaga counties. ⁴ Onondaga County Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny (D) commented on the controversy by claiming, “The texts are telling people about Primary Day, that they’re eligible to vote in the primary, and in giving a polling place,” Czarny said. “And the problem is, the polling place is egregiously wrong.” ⁴ Several texts cited appeared to direct voters to polling stations within other parts of the state such as a central New Yorker being told to vote in the Eastern Buffalo and Hudson Valley counties. ⁴

Similar issues occurred in Albany County with a local news outlet there reporting that the group had sent out text messages with incorrect information, “to nearly 6,000 Democrats in Albany County as an experiment ahead of the 2024 general election.” ¹

In response, VoteFTW released a statement on the controversy:

“Ahead of the New York primary election, we sent messages to New Yorkers in a unique visual format—an image of their polling location…Unfortunately, some of these texts contained incorrect polling locations due to an error on our part. We take full responsibility for this mistake. Upon discovering the error, we promptly issued a correction text directing voters again to their official poll lookup tool.” ⁵

2023 Wisconsin Primary

On February 20, 2023, during the 2023 Wisconsin state primary elections, Vote FTW sent out a series of text messages to registered voters with a picture of their polling place telling them to vote while failing to mention that the state’s primaries were the next day, February 21. One source interviewed by local media claimed, “It struck me as someone who has some kind of incentive to have a lower voter turnout election on February 21st by making people think, again, that the next available time for voting is April 4th and just skipping right over the fact that there is an election tomorrow [Tuesday].” ²

1. Hughes, Steve. “Advocacy group peppers Albany County Dems with incorrect voting info.” Times Union. June 24, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/advocacy-group-peppers-albany-county-dems-19531602.php
2. Baik, Michelle. “Ahead of spring primary, Wis. voters wary of ‘misleading’ texts.” 15 WMMTV (Madison, WI). February 20, 2023. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.wmtv15news.com/2023/02/21/ahead-spring-primary-wis-voters-wary-misleading-texts/
3. “Home.” VoteFTW.” Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.voteftw.com/
4. Abbott, Ellen. “Elections officials warn public of polling site scam; company blames database error.” WXXI News NPR. June 24, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.wxxinews.org/2024-06-24/elections-officials-warn-public-of-polling-site-scam-company-blames-database-error
5. “Statement Regarding New York Polling Location Images.” VoteFTW. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.voteftw.com/statement-regarding-new-york-polling-location-images