CNN: Federal observers and monitors heading to polls

[DeepModem Mom]

Federal observers and monitors heading to polls
October 31, 2006
From Terry Frieden
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Justice Department plans to dispatch more than 800 federal observers and monitors to 20 states to protect voting rights in potentially troubled polling locations, officials announced Tuesday.

That is a record number of federal officials watching polling stations in an off-year election.

"Yes, the anticipated closeness of races is one factor in our decisions about where we'll be sending people," said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Wan Kim.

Kim said he would not identify until Monday the more than 65 cities and counties to which the observers will be sent.

The locations where federal observers will be stationed are selected because of past polling problems, an uneasy history among ethnically or racially diverse groups, or where fears and allegations of potential violations are asserted....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/31/justice.elections/index.html

[upi402]

1. I don't trust my fellow Americans anymore

How sad is that?
If they were from another country I would feel better.

[Erika]

2. The W/Gonzales Justice Dept. reminds me of the Watergate

bunch. Who's going to watch them?
We can't trust the W administration to do anything but protect the GOP. They think of the rest of us as enemies.

[INdemo]

8. Its like the Fox guarding the hen house Right?

[Suich]

3. What in the world is a "Federal Observer?"

CIA, FBI, TSA, Marshall, what???????

:hi:

[Erika]

4. All the Katherine Harris's W can come up with

to insure "fair" elections.

[Bitwit1234]

5. In the 60's

Back in the 60's they used to have poll watchers from both parties at the polls to report on any irregularities. I used to be one. We would get there when they first opened and roam around and ask questions as to how the voting went and if there were problems etc. But that was back when they had the machines were you pulled the lever down for each vote and then recorded the vote when you pulled the big lever to open the curtain. We also had to walk outside and watch. And boy I will tell you it sure was cold on some of those voting days. We were given nickles to call headquarters on the pay phone if we found something wrong. And I will say this...the republican watchers and the democrats watchers were chatty with each other. When we had coffee brought it we shared and there was none of the stuff where people like Allen's thugs wrestled people to the ground. Everyone was civil. I miss the old time republicans.

[kster]

6. 13.4 million to 800, BRING IT

WASHINGTON, Oct 30 /U.S. Newswire/ -- An unprecedented "Final Four" GOTV program by the AFL-CIO and its community affiliate Working America will deploy 100,000 union volunteers to reach millions of drop-off union voters in the final four days of the election, the AFL-CIO announced today. The "Final Four" program is the capstone push of the AFL-CIO's drive to change the course of the country by mobilizing more than 13.4 million union voters in 32 states and 515 electoral races at all levels. The AFL-CIO GOTV program is the largest organizational turnout program in the nation, focused on electing candidates who will champion working families' priorities.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2527811

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Good thing the M$M is ignoring these mobilizations

and have their panties in a twist over Kerry instead. Then Karl Rove won't know what hit him on election day.

[Demit]

7. Philadelphia is one of them.

"...Two weeks before Election Day, the city is fighting an attempt by the U.S. Justice Department to appoint federal observers for Philadelphia elections beginning Nov. 7 and lasting past next year's presidential race, until the end of 2009.

The effort to appoint the observers stems from a lawsuit filed by the federal government 14 days ago alleging that the city has violated the rights of its Hispanic voters. ...

According to the lawsuit, about 6.6 percent of the city's voting-age population is Hispanic, and more than a third of those people - 25,660 - speak only limited English.

Since 1974, the city has provided translators at polling places where census data indicates Hispanics live. The Justice Department wants Spanish language assistance citywide. "This is one of those issues where the remedy far exceeds any potential need," city Solicitor Romulo Diaz said, adding that in the Nov. 7 election, the city also will provide translations via telephone in 200 languages, including Spanish. ..."

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/15858843.htm