The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Democratic robo-call sparks GOP complaint in Arlington board election

October 30, 2015 at 4:51 p.m. EDT

The race for two open Arlington County Board seats has gotten so heated that the usual robo-calls and push polls from opposing candidates have become a new battleground.

The head of the local Republican party filed a complaint on Friday with the Virginia Board of Elections charging Democratic nominee Christian Dorsey with misleading voters with a Thursday robocall that reminded voters to cast their ballots “tomorrow” at their regular polling place.

The election is Tuesday, not Friday.

Arlington election could mean new upheaval or status quo

Dorsey's campaign said the vendor who produced the robocall mistakenly used a script intended for Monday, and that no subterfuge was intended.

After hearing from voters who had received the call, Dorsey recorded a new call Thursday afternoon that contained an apology and corrected the error. That call was sent out within an hour to 1,500 phone numbers, 400 more than had received the original call, campaign manager Jarrod Nagurka said.

The apology and correction can be heard here.

“Misleading independent and Republican voters, by asking them to vote on the wrong day of the election causes confusion, and ultimately can reduce voter turn-out,” said local GOP chairman Matthew Wavro. He called the errant recording “a new low in dirty politics.”

Earlier this week, two residents backed by the local Democratic party filed a complaint alleging that a telephone poll paid for by Republican-turned-independent Mike McMenamin failed to identify who paid for the poll.

McMenamin, Dorsey and two other candidates — Democrat Katie Cristol and independent Audrey Clement-- are vying for two spots on the five-person Arlington County board.

Early voting in Arlington continues through Saturday. On Tuesday, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.