The North Dakota Democratic Party appears to be playing politics with hunters and their outdoor passions in what amounts to voter intimidation and suppression.
In a misleading ad, the state’s Democratic Party used social media to confuse and keep hunters from hitting the voting booth. There is a contentious race between Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer and U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in this year’s midterm election.
The ad suggests that hunters will lose their licenses if they vote.
“This is nothing more than voter intimidation and manipulation for political gain,” said Evan Heusinkveld, president and CEO of Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Hunters are a strong and politically important voting bloc, and to mislead and threaten them is just wrong.”
According to the Washington Post:
The ad is similar to claims that discourage out-of-state college students from voting in elections, said Sean Morales-Doyle, counsel for the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, which focuses on voting rights.
“This is aimed at telling people who are eligible to vote, not to vote because of some fear that we can’t say is based in reality,” said Morales-Doyle.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.