An anti-Trump super PAC, AllVote, has recently come under scrutiny for allegedly sending misleading text messages to voters in key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia.
Reports indicate that some voters received texts falsely claiming they had not cast their ballots, even if they already had. Others were sent incorrect information about polling locations or drop-box sites.
The New Mexico Secretary of State’s office responded to complaints, suggesting that federal authorities “need to look at and crack down on” the incident, according to a report by the Washington Free Beacon.
The Free Beacon’s investigation found that AllVote is affiliated with Rapid Resist Action, an organization founded by former Obama administration official Yoni Landau.
Rapid Resist Action has been financially supported by billionaire Reid Hoffman, whose recent tax filings reveal a contribution of nearly half a million dollars to the group in 2022.
Hoffman is no stranger to controversy. He previously funded a tech firm implicated in creating fake online accounts to influence the 2017 Alabama Senate election, discouraging conservative voters.
When the scheme was exposed, Hoffman apologized, stating he was unaware of the firm’s activities.
Yoni Landau, founder of AllVote’s parent organization, has a record of questionable voter outreach practices.
In 2022, Landau’s nonprofit Voting Futures Trust was found to have sent inaccurate information about drop-box locations to voters in New Jersey, Kansas, and North Carolina.
Landau took “full responsibility” and sent correction texts. Two years earlier, another of Landau’s groups sent misleading messages to Arizona voters, falsely informing them that they were ineligible to vote by mail.
This latest incident involving AllVote adds to a broader pattern of issues associated with Landau’s outreach efforts.
In an interview with Krebs on Security, Landau expressed regret over the errors, saying, “I’m deeply sorry for anyone that may have gotten the message in error, who is registered to vote.”
He also promised to review the organization’s messaging to prevent future misinformation.
However, similar missteps have continued to surface, with other affiliated organizations also accused of sending out flawed voter information.
In a separate 2020 incident, Landau’s VoteWin organization sent inaccurate messages to potential voters, informing them they were not registered.
And in 2022, his firm Movement Labs, which operates multiple political outreach programs, was criticized for pushing the boundaries of traditional campaign practices.
Movement Labs claims to have “a lot more flexibility” than mainstream Democratic groups.
Reflecting on the risks, Landau remarked in 2022 that if the Democratic National Committee or a state party makes a misstep, “there can be real negative consequences for the career of the person who made the decision.”
This latest AllVote controversy has raised questions about the extent to which rapid-response political tactics are appropriately monitored.
With more allegations of misinformation surfacing, federal oversight might increase scrutiny of political outreach from groups with similar histories.
As the election draws closer, AllVote and other groups linked to Landau may face more challenges as watchdog organizations and the public demand greater accountability.
