Karlapalem Campaign Files Formal Complaint Over Deceptive “Push Poll” Targeting HD4 Voters

From the Karlapalem campaign

“If Parker Moore or his allies have a message for the voters of District 4, they should deliver it themselves — not hide behind a fake pollster named ‘Lucy’ and a disposable phone number,” Karlapalem said. “Voters deserve to know who is spending money to manipulate and lie to them, not just who is asking the questions.”

MADISON, Alabama — The campaign of Hanu Karlapalem, Democratic nominee for Alabama State House District 4, has filed a formal complaint with the Alabama Secretary of State’s office over a deceptive text-message survey being sent to voters across Limestone, Madison, and Morgan counties — one that carries the hallmarks of a classic political “push poll” rather than a genuine measure of public opinion.

Voters have reported receiving unsolicited text messages from an unidentified sender using the name “Lucy” and a group calling itself the “Voter Opinion Center,” directing recipients to a 24-question online survey. The survey opens with neutral-seeming questions on vote intent and favorability ratings, then pivots to reciting glowing, campaign-style praise of Rep. Parker Moore before presenting recipients with a series of mashed-up lies and inflammatory statements attributed to Karlapalem — then immediately re-asking who they would vote for.

“This is a textbook push poll,” Karlapalem said. “You don’t spend real money asking ‘more or less likely’ questions like this unless your goal is to move votes, not measure opinion. No legitimate pollster hides behind a fake first name and an untraceable link.”

The campaign noted several signs pointing away from a genuine research effort:

● The survey is hosted on a white-labeled SurveyMonkey account, not a named, accountable polling firm.

● The accompanying text link uses a disposable, privacy-shielded web domain that obscures who purchased and deployed it.

● The sender number shows no public record of legitimate business or polling activity.

● The survey’s laudatory statements about Rep. Moore’s record are presented as fact immediately before hostile statements about Karlapalem — a one-sided structure inconsistent with neutral research.

“Voters in Limestone, Madison, and Morgan counties deserve a campaign that will look them in the eye, not one that hides behind a fake pollster,” said Benard Simelton, Campaign Chairman.

“We’ve done our part and put this in front of the Secretary of State. Now it’s time for Parker Moore to tell the voters of District 4 the truth about who is behind this.”

The Karlapalem campaign has filed a formal complaint with the Alabama Secretary of State's office against “Voter Opinion Center,” citing violations of Code of Alabama §§ 17-5-12(a) and 17-5-2(4) — provisions of the Fair Campaign Practices Act that require any entity paying for an electioneering communication to clearly disclose its identity. The complaint requests an investigation into who is behind the survey and who paid for it. The complaint includes screenshots of the text messages sent to voters and the questions used in the since-deactivated survey.

Violations of the FCPA's identification requirements are not a minor paperwork issue. Under Alabama law, the Attorney General or a District Attorney may prosecute any person who violates the Act, and conviction carries a fine of up to $6,000 and up to one year of imprisonment.

With in-person absentee voting beginning today, September 9, Karlapalem is calling on the Secretary of State’s office to move quickly, thoroughly, and transparently. “Voters are already casting ballots,” Karlapalem said. “They deserve to know the truth if they’re being lied to and manipulated by deceptive tactics, whether it’s funded by dark money or Parker Moore’s own campaign — and they deserve to know it before Election Day, not after.”

Karlapalem is calling on Rep. Parker Moore to state plainly whether his campaign, allied PACs, or the Alabama Republican Party commissioned or funded the survey, and is encouraging any voter who received the text to preserve it and report it to their wireless carrier and the FCC. Hanu Karlapalem's campaign is asking voters across HD4 who received similar text messages from "Voter Opinion Center" to contact the campaign online at hanu4alabama.com.

Hanu Karlapalem is a Madison, Alabama resident of 26 years, small technology business owner, UAH M.S. graduate, Life Member and former Second Vice President of the Limestone County NAACP and Chairman, AANHPI Caucus. He has been married for 31 years and has deep roots in the North Alabama community through civic, professional, and community service. Karlapalemis the Democratic nominee for Alabama State House District 4 in the November 3, 2026, general election.

For more information: https://www.hanu4alabama.com