Americans for Prosperity stands for free markets and liberty and against Kenyan socialism and voter fraud. That's why it's so important to AFP to make sure that you and your cat are ready to vote in North Carolina next month.

Among AFP's many conservative causes, the Koch brothers-funded group claims to be concerned about the integrity of the American voting process, watchdogging liberal voter drives and saying it "will not tolerate those who would cheapen the vote." But according to the Raleigh News & Observer, AFP's North Carolina office just sent "hundreds of North Carolinians—and one cat" a voter-registration guide riddled with errors:

The information – an "official application form" – was sent by Americans for Prosperity, a national conservative group with a state chapter based in Raleigh.

Since then, hundreds of people who received the forms have called and complained to the State Board of Elections, said Joshua Lawson, a public information officer for the board.

"It's unclear where (Americans for Prosperity) got their list, but it's caused a lot of confusion for people in the state," Lawson said.

One resident even received a voter registration form addressed to her cat, he said.

Among other errors, the forms apparently instructed registrants to mail completed forms to a state office, complete with the wrong address for that state office. But registration forms are supposed to go to an applicant's county board of elections. AFP's "official" forms also listed the wrong deadline to get registered in time for November's election. That deadline, according to North Carolina officials, is actually Oct. 10.

Was AFP trying wholeheartedly but stupidly to get folks registered, or was it deliberately misinforming residents to screw up their chances to turn out on Election Day? Some recipients are wondering:

Alison Beal of Wake Forest received one of the forms at her home, but it was addressed to her brother-in-law, who lives in Caldwell County. Beal is not a member of Americans for Prosperity and says her brother-in-law would not be a member either...

Beal said she thinks the false information could be an honest mistake but said it could also deter people from registering.

"It seems like something you would want to pay attention for, if you really want to get people to register to vote," Beal said.

She added: "People don't really know—they assume what they get in the mail is true." And I assume that cat was a socialist who would have voted for Mao, given the chance.

[Photo illustration: Shutterstock]