Tate Hausman, a political operative convicted of voter fraud in 2009, is leading a controversial voter registration effort through Civic Innovation Works, a nonprofit that offers Taylor Swift concert tickets to those checking their voter registration status. Hausman, who currently works for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, has a history of legal issues stemming from illegally claiming residency in Ohio to vote for Barack Obama — voter fraud.
Civic Innovation Works is using the Swift-themed contest to boost voter turnout in battleground states, including North Carolina and Arizona. The nonprofit’s partnership with Democratic-aligned groups like TargetSmart and Vote.org has raised questions about its impartiality. The contest was launched after Swift publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency.
Hausman’s past voter fraud conviction has sparked concerns about the integrity of Civic Innovation’s efforts. The organization has faced scrutiny in the past for funding misleading ads through a North Carolina-based group targeting Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Despite this, Civic Innovation has continued its voter registration campaigns, with the Taylor Swift contest running until Oct. 21.
While Hausman is not directly linked to Mayor Adams’ ongoing legal troubles, his connection to Adams adds another layer of controversy to the group’s efforts.
