Watch CBS News

Letter Sent To South Suburban Residents Reveals Non-Voters

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A letter that went out to some people in the southwest suburbs ahead of today's elections has sparked outrage from local residents and officials.

Monica Murphy, of Frankfort, got one of the letters this weekend.

"I open it up, and it's got information about my voting history, and saying how if I don't vote, more information is going to be sent out to my neighbors," she told WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger.

Letter Threatens To Expose Non-Voters

The opening line of the letter reads "What if your neighbors knew whether you voted?" The letters also detailed whether residents voted in recent elections, but not which parties or candidates they supported.

The Illinois State Board of Elections said information about a person's voting history is public to registered political committees and government agencies.

Murphy said she's been dealing with a serious illness in her family, and hasn't had time to become an informed voter this year.

"I'm not going to go today, because I don't have time, and I have a small child. You know, people don't realize that there's other things going on as to why people don't go and vote," she said.

It's unclear who sent the letters.

Will County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots told the Southtown Star she wants an investigation by the state's attorney's office.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.