Attorney General Roy Cooper said the "Lamont Williams" calls were illegal.
In a statement, the attorney general said that automated calls from Women's Voices Women Vote that encouraged voters to mail in voter registration forms after the state's deadlines violated state law by failing to disclose who sponsored the call or give contact information.
"Regardless of the motivation, the robo-calls violated the law and they needed to stop," Cooper said in a statement.
The organization told the attorney general's office today that the calls would stop. Cooper's office did not say if the group would face any sanctions for making the calls.
Cooper also urged political parties and campaigns to honor the Do Not Call Registry, although it does not currently cover political robocalls. He encouraged voters with concerns to call the state's telemarketing hotline, 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
Update: Cooper spokewoman Jennifer Canada said the attorney general's office will continue to investigate the calls before deciding on any sanctions.
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Re: this was voter suppression and was NO accident
I agree. There's no way such an experienced group of political operatives could be this clumsy TWELVE times. They were supposedly targeting unregistered, single, female voters with the "Lamont Williams" voice calling many male, married, and registered voters. Women's Voices Women Vote is led by individuals with decades of political experience, and now they say they didn't think about when the primary was? How can any self-respecting journalist swallow this?
If it’s not an intentional attempt at voter disenfranchisement, then I have to conclude that the folks running Women's Voices Women Vote (and/or MHSC, outreach consultants to Clinton & WVWV (hmmm)) are simply massively incompetent. This isn’t very likely looking at their resumes, but I’d be convinced that it was true if key staff get fired over this incredible screw-up. Does anyone think that will happen?
I hope Cooper throws the book at them and that the media will take a break from coverage of Rev. Wright, gas prices, and flag pins to inform voters of this pressing issue that may well affect the outcome of our state and national elections.