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19 Oct 04 - 10:42 PM (#1301249) Subject: BS: Voting Challengers legal in your State? From: katlaughing I just found out, from watching CSPAN, that the GOP in Ohio plans to have "Voting Challengers" at several polling places on Election day. These challengers can question anyone who comes to vote as to their age, whether they are voting in the right precinct, too young to vote or even eligible to vote. The Dems are planning to have people in place to monitor this activity. I have found this article which also shows it is legal in Kentucky and may be used to intimidate people of colour. In that article, it seems the "challengers" cannot approach the person in question directly, but must go to the polling officials to challenge. From the CSPAN show, it was my impression this is not the case in Ohio; it sounded as though they could stop anyone coming to vote and question/challenge them. 1) I find it outrageous that this is legal. I think the county officials, polling officials, etc. should be the ones to verify someone's right to vote. 2) I am wondering if this is legal in all states, i.e. federally sanctioned, OR if it is only certain ones. Have any of you ever heard of this or know more about it? Thanks, kat |
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20 Oct 04 - 12:42 AM (#1301323) Subject: RE: BS: Voting Challengers legal in your State? From: Peace I think this will blow up in the faces of the Republicans. It will strengthen the resolve of voters in "Democrat areas" to darn well get to the polls. It will be done from a sense of pride and with the determination to honour the memories of their parents and grandparents who gave so much that today's generation actually HAS the right to vote. I know from my own past that when I am offered a challenge of this nature I will take the challenge every time. It causes something in me to respond in just the manner that will piss off the people issuing the challenge. If that is as simple as casting a vote, hey that's what I will do. Folks in the "Democrat areas" will come through. Betcha the turnout is even higher than it's been for many elections. |
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20 Oct 04 - 12:43 AM (#1301324) Subject: RE: BS: Voting Challengers legal in your State? From: Peace Sorry, kat, didn't mean to go off on a tangent. |
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20 Oct 04 - 01:09 AM (#1301337) Subject: RE: BS: Voting Challengers legal in your State? From: Amergin You know...these people are more and more reminding me of the fascists....pretty soon they'll have toughs hanging out at the voting places to beat the hell out of anyone who doesn't vote their way. |
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20 Oct 04 - 01:11 AM (#1301340) Subject: RE: BS: Voting Challengers legal in your State? From: DougR Yes, kat I think it is legal. Democrats do it too. I heard tonight that the Democrats have 10,000 attornies who will be ready willing and able to file complaints on election day, even if there are no infractions. The Republicans probably do too. DougR |
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20 Oct 04 - 01:24 AM (#1301348) Subject: RE: BS: Voting Challengers legal in your State? From: Sorcha I'm just so sick of all the crap. I'll be glad when it's over for a few years. |
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20 Oct 04 - 04:05 AM (#1301440) Subject: RE: BS: Voting Challengers legal in your State? From: katlaughing Totally apporpriate, brucie, thanks for the imput. I hope you are right; the intimidation, implied or otherwise, can be troubling Doug, that's one of the most balanced political things I've ever seen you post. Thanks ya'll. I've since found this is an old-time tradition in New England, but one must complain to the election officials, NOT individual voters. Apparently it was originally done to keep each party in line, making sure they didn't pull any shenanigans..but of course THOSE haven't stopped, have they...Florida in 2000. kat |
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24 Oct 04 - 12:21 AM (#1305375) Subject: RE: BS: Voting Challengers legal in your State? From: katlaughing Here's a bit more info on this, from the Impeach Bush movement: The criminal conduct of the Bush administration seems boundless. Having intimidated Congress into supporting his war of aggression against Iraq and the simultaneous assault on civil liberties at home, the Bush team is organizing a massive intimidation campaign against voters in predominantly African American communities in urban areas in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other swing states. This effort - reminiscent of the disenfranchisement of voters that has been the ugly legacy of racism in this country - is plainly designed to steal the election. "Republican Party officials in Ohio took formal steps yesterday to place thousands of recruits inside polling places on Election Day to challenge the qualifications of voters they suspect are not eligible to cast ballots," reports the NY Times of October 23. "Election officials in other swing states, from Arizona to Wisconsin and Florida, say they are bracing for similar efforts by Republicans to challenge new voters at polling places, reflecting months of disputes over voting procedures and the anticipation of an election as close as the one in 2000. "Ohio election officials said they had never seen so large a drive to prepare for Election Day challenges. They said they were scrambling yesterday to be ready for disruptions in the voting process as well as alarm and complaints among voters. Some officials said they worried that the challenges could discourage or even frighten others waiting to vote." |
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25 Oct 04 - 12:15 AM (#1306296) Subject: RE: BS: Voting Challengers legal in your State? From: Mark Cohen That's why God created video cameras. Should make for some interesting times. Aloha, Mark |
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25 Oct 04 - 12:43 AM (#1306310) Subject: RE: BS: Voting Challengers legal in your State? From: Jack the Sailor Sony is God? |
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25 Oct 04 - 11:59 PM (#1307271) Subject: RE: BS: Voting Challengers legal in your State? From: Tannywheeler Not in ByGod Texas!!! None of those nasty shenanagins. Either party may place a "pollwatcher" at a specific polling place, but that person may NOT address or approach the voters. They may observe the process, question the judge (away from the line or "checkin table"), take any concerns about possible inaccuracies/improper procedures to the County Clerk's office, but may NOT disturb voters or clerks/judges in the performance of their duties. If such a scene is tried, the election judge, or his/her alternate judge, may call the sherriff and have the offending "pollwatcher" removed to a holding cell until the polls close. If y'all haven't voted yet and are planning to do so on 2 Nov. look up your voters' reg. certificates/cards, if it applies in your state. It quickens/smoothsout the process of moving the line. The people working your polls will have put in several hours in training/update for the process and arrived at the polls by 6 or 6:15AM. They may work there until nearly 8PM with only a few potty-breaks and a lunchbreak. They will set up the polls, lay out materials, open the polls, aid disabled voters, teach how to use the equipment to those voters who haven't learned, phone the election center for more materials, soothe frayed nerves of voters who are in a hurry, reminded passionate partisans of either side not to "electioneer" inside the polling place, dealt with voters kids playing with the machinery, etc. -- til it seems they've been there for 12 days rather than 12 hours. Then they will close the polls and pack up the machinery and materials. Having spent all day supervising the safety and validity of the polling process, the judge and at least one of her/his alternates will then form a guard to deliver the ballots (whatever form they take) to some variation of election central receiving station to be counted. Some of us will collapse after that, but some are still full of enough piss and vinegar to go to a returns-watching party!!! A little thing like your voters reg. card will be a moment of smooth sanity for those behind the desk. I've been a 'Catter long enough to know that you guys are always ready to support the promotion of someone else's health and sanity. Thanks, in advance. See y'all at the polls. Go vote. Go vote. Go vote. Tw |