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"Vote swapping" website wooing third party Michigan voters

"Vote here" sign
steve carmody
/
Michigan Radio
But for whom?

Some Hillary Clinton supporters are trying to convince third party voters in Michigan to “swap” their votes with Democrats in states where the presidential race is not considered close.  

TrumpTraders.org is a website connecting toss-up state Green and Libertarian voters with anti-Donald Trump voters in “safe” states like California.

Spokesman Ricardo Reyes says by agreeing to swap their votes, Democrat Hillary Clinton gets more votes in toss-up states like Michigan and more third party votes are cast is states where the presidential election is less close.

“The purpose of what we are trying to do here is make sure [Republican Presidential Nominee Donald] Trump is not accidently elected,” says Reyes, who says he’s agreed to vote for Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein in exchange for a Stein supporter in Michigan to vote for Clinton.

As of Friday, Reyes says the TrumpTraders website had already connected thousands of voters in Florida and Ohio.  

"Vote swapping" is not new. A similar tactic was tried with Democrat Al Gore and third-party candidate Ralph Nader in 2000, but failed to prevent Republican George Bush from winning.  

The courts have ruledvote swapping is legal, as long as no one is getting paid for their vote.

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.
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