Upstate New York Rep. Elise Stefanik vowed to pull funding from NPR over an affiliate reporter’s inaccurate claim on Tuesday about early voting that suggested the GOP congresswoman couldn’t vote for herself.
Stefanik blasted North Country Public Radio (NCPR) and accused the station of “election interference” after one of its reporters tweeted Stefanik cast her early ballot at one of Saratoga County polling locations in the 20th District even though she’s running to keep her seat in the 21st District.
But the early polling spot is open to all voters in the county, Stefanik said.
It’s part of the 20th District but will include parts of the 20th and 21st Districts following the election due to redistricting.
“The disgraced New York NPR affiliate @ncpr just sent out false information and spread misinformation about early voting locations targeting voters in my district to suppress the vote,” Stefanik wrote on social media.
“This is blatant and illegal election interference.”
While Stefanik, a town of Saratoga resident, currently doesn’t live in the district, congressional maps were slightly tweaked earlier this year so she will reside there when the results of Tuesday’s election take effect.
House representatives don’t need to live in the district they represent.
Stefanik, who is backing Donald Trump for president, claimed her office received phone calls from voters confused about the early voting spot because of the tweet.
“While candidates of both parties are working hard to educate all voters of early in person voting locations in their county, this disgraced (and lazy) outlet falsely claimed I did not and could not vote for myself,” she wrote.
“FALSE. I just cast my #NY21 ballot with my name on it.”
The congresswoman added that “NY voters are eligible to vote at any early vote location in your county. I will DEFUND NPR.”
Stefanik’s office said she stands by her fiery statement after the NCPR reporter, Emily Russell, deleted her inaccurate tweet and apologized on Wednesday afternoon.
Congressional Republicans, including Stefanik, have pushed to end federal funding to NPR in recent years, claiming the outlet slants to the left.
Stefanik is running against Democrat Paul Collins as she seeks a sixth term in office.
Rep. Paul Tonko, a Democrat, represents the 20th Congressional District and is facing Republican Kevin Waltz.
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