A voter registration organization with ties to Democrats is drawing attention for offering Taylor Swift concert tickets to encourage people to check their voter registration status. Civic Innovation Works, a nonprofit based in New York, is using this tactic to boost turnout in key battleground states like Georgia, North Carolina and Arizona. While the organization doesn’t publicly claim a party affiliation, it is working with Democratic-aligned groups.
The head of Civic Innovation Works, Tate Hausman, has a controversial past. Hausman was convicted of voter fraud in 2009 after he illegally claimed residency in Ohio to cast a vote in the 2008 presidential election. At the time, Hausman was running another voter registration group and claimed he misunderstood Ohio’s voting laws. He was fined $1,000 and given probation.
Despite his conviction, Hausman has continued to work in politics, now holding a position in New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. Adams himself is currently facing legal troubles after being indicted on charges related to accepting illegal donations. Hausman has not been implicated in Adams’ case.
Civic Innovation Works has faced scrutiny for other questionable tactics in the past. In 2020, the group funded deceptive ads through a North Carolina-based organization that targeted Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Critics called the ads misleading, and the group faced backlash for airing fake news segments.
The Taylor Swift ticket contest is part of a broader effort by Civic Innovation Works to attract younger voters. The contest runs until October 21, with the winner announced shortly after. Hausman’s leadership and controversial past have raised questions about the group’s intentions.
