JOHNSON COUNTY, KS (KCTV) -
People are doing anything to get out the vote in the final week, and scam artists are doing the same thing, making people think they have already cast their votes in ways that aren't possible.
There is a lot of tedious work to be done in running a campaign. With flyers, signs, phone calls and door-knocking, Johnson County Democrats are pushing hard in the final week of the campaign, but they are worried some of their get-out-the vote effort could be canceled out by scam artists.
"It is hard to say who is behind those scams. Is it someone who is trying to suppress somebody's vote? Or is it a scam artist trying to get personal information out of an individual?" said Kathy Cook, chair of Johnson County Democratic Party.
One recent case has people on alert at the Democratic headquarters in Johnson County after an email that looked like it was from the state of Kansas offered the chance to vote early online.
A nurse at a local hospital called it in.
"She had told a patient, be sure when you get out don't forget to vote, the election's around the corner. And this young woman told her, 'well I've already voted. I voted online,'" Cook said.
But that is not possible. The only ways to vote are in person at a polling place, early or on election day, or by requesting an early ballot sent in the mail.
"This election is so crucial, not only in our state, but in our nation. To have anyone denied their opportunity or to have their voice heard, I think is just insulting," Cook said.
The scams didn't actually ask for people's personal information. The sole goal seemed to be to make the person think they have cast a vote, when they really haven't.
The other big issue people at the Johnson County Democratic headquarters is hearing is concern over Kansas' new voter ID law.
They are reminding people that they can go down to the Department of Motors Vehicles, explain that they need an ID to vote and they will give them a free one. Also, anyone 65 and older can used an expired drivers license to vote.
Rules on advanced and absentee voting in Kansas say people can vote in person early through noon on Nov. 5. In Missouri, people can't vote in person early.
Voters can do absentee ballots, but applications have to be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday. Ballots have to be at the election office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.
