Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson is warning Hoosiers not to accept phone calls offering over-the-phone voting.

Lawson was prompted to issue this warning after receiving complaints from voters who received phone calls offering to let them vote early over the phone, her the Secretary of State’s Office said last week.

“Under no circumstances can you vote over the phone,” Lawson said. “If you receive a call offering to let you vote over the phone, hang up. It’s a scam. This investigation centers around a firm called Vote USA. But there could be other similar types of illegal contact with voters and we must remain vigilant.”

Lawson’s office investigated Vote USA, in conjunction with Tippecanoe County Election Board members Amy Wenrick and Jared Bond and Tippecanoe County Clerk Christa Coffey. The office also consulted with the Indiana Attorney General’s office and with attorneys general from around the U.S.

The scam works like this: the Vote USA caller advises voters that lines will be long on Election Day and that they can vote over the phone. Caller ID list the caller as Vote USA and list the number as (425) 390-8108. Voters who receive a call from Vote USA should ignore the call.

Any suspicious, unsolicited political calls should be reported to the Secretary of State’s Office, the Indiana Election Division, or the local county clerk. Voters may call (866) 461-8683 or (866) IN-1-Vote to report a suspicious call.

Hoosiers who can not make it to the polls on Election Day may vote prior to November 6 by requesting an absentee ballot on www.indianavoters.com Absentee ballots are available beginning 29 days before the election. Hoosiers may also vote in-person up to 29 days early during business hours at most county clerk’s offices.

Posted 9/17/2012