AP: Md. Dems Slam GOP Voter-Credential Guide

[Eugene]

Md. Dems Slam GOP Voter-Credential Guide

By ALEX DOMINGUEZ
The Associated Press
Thursday, November 2, 2006; 5:28 PM

BALTIMORE -- Maryland Democrats on Thursday accused Republicans of
launching a "conscious, premeditated" campaign of voter intimidation
after a report described a handbook advising Republican poll watchers
to challenge the credentials of any voters they suspect are fraudulent.

The handbook, obtained by The Washington Post for a story in Thursday's
editions, urges poll watchers to warn election judges that they could face
jail time if they fail to act.

"Your most important duty as a poll worker is to challenge people who
present themselves to vote but who are not authorized to vote," the GOP
handbook says.

Democrats said Republicans are engaging in tactics reminiscent of the
pre-civil rights era. Rep. Elijah Cummings accused the GOP of "a conscious,
premeditated plan of voter intimidation and voter suppression."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/02/AR2006110201053.html

[journalist3072]

1. They just talked about this on the local NBC-4 news.

And of course Michael Steele is feigning ignorance, saying he knows nothing about this.

[Heidi]

2. Kick.

:kick:

[brooklynite]

3. (Baltimore) Democrats Are Fuming Over A Republican Manual (+ Dirty Tricks)

WJZ) Baltimore, MD Democrats are fuming over what they call aggressive tactics in a Republican manual for poll watchers. The manual in question encourages Republican poll workers to challenge the eligibility of the voters.

...snip...

In an unrelated issue, claims of election tampering have surfaced less than a week before voters go to the polls to vote in the November 7th election.

...snip...

Board of Elections officials say between 10 and 20 judges received phone calls telling them not to show up at the polls. Now, a team of federal prosecutors and the FBI are investigating the claims.

...snip...

City Board of Elections President Armistead Jones told Eyewitness News someone was able to confiscate a "complete" and supposedly "confidential" roster of about 25 election judges.

http://wjz.com/topstories/local_story_306143017.html

[savemefromdumbya]

4. The republicans are desparate so they will do anything

they're losing

[Gman]

7. They're not desperate

this has been SOP for the GOP now for at least the last 3 elections.

[Pacifist Patriot]

10. I agree with you. Same shit, better spotlight.

[sandnsea]

11. Oh for years and years and years

This is why the Voting Rights Act is targeted at specific states, they've been doing this garbage forever. Seems to me they've just expanded voter suppression all over the country now.

[stillcool]

5. here's the same shit in New York...

GOP already challenging voters in NY state Senate battleground
By JIM FITZGERALD
Associated Press Writer
October 30, 2006, 7:18 PM EST
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Apparently anticipating another close election next week, Republicans have already begun challenging the right of some registered voters to cast ballots in the 35th state Senate district, where
Nicholas Spano won re-election by just 18 votes two years ago.

This year's race is a rematch, with the Democrats again nominating Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Westchester County legislator who put a scare into Spano and the state Republican hierarchy and set off a recount that lasted three months in the Yonkers-dominated district. As in 2004, the district is considered a key to Democrats' hopes of closing the GOP's margin in the Senate, now 35-27.
During the recount, GOP lawyers successfully challenged hundreds of paper ballots cast by likely Stewart-Cousins voters. This year, they have filed 5,929 challenges based on change-of-address cards received by the U.S. Postal Service

Spano spokesman Anthony Giambruno said the challenge "isn't ours, it's the lawyers"' and referred calls to Ciampoli.
Two deputy commissioners at the Westchester County Board of Elections, Republican Melissa Nacerino and Democrat Jeannie Palazola, said in a joint phone interview that the board had no choice but to immediately act on each of the affidavits, which all are signed by the same person.
If a challenged address matches the voter rolls, the board sends first-class and certified letters to each person. If the letters come back undelivered, police are asked to visit the address and see if the registered voter lives there.
The elections workers said the process could not be completed before
Election Day, which is Nov. 7, but files would be kept on challenged voters and their votes could be challenged after the election.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny...

and here's a link to the same shit in Ohio...by Rick Myers...
OHIO POLLING PLACE ALERT
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2923241

[applegrove]

6. They will loose in numbers too big for it to make a difference. I dare

them to bully anybody at a voting place. They will get jumped on so fast.

Desperation. They should have run good government if they wanted to win an election. Too late now. And it only took a few years for people to get wise to their "un-government".

[Mr_Spock]

8. I have seen Republicans go crazy at the polling place

One RWer was all up in arms because the Democratic governor candidate came by the polling place to vote but said hi to a couple of people in the process. "He's not allowed to campaign outside a polling place within 100' (or whatever the law is). The campaign worker checked it out and said it was fine & he was not there any more anyway. I chuckled & was very satisfied when that Democrat was elected as governor. And he will be reelected Tuesday as well!

[kster]

9. Voters will out number the challengers

VOTERS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO!!!!

[tblue]

12. HuffPo/WaPo: MARYLAND GOP Plans To Block Voters

Md. Democrats Say GOP Plans to Block Voters

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/01/AR2006110103202.html

You know they will target precincts with
1) black voters
2) lower income voters
3) Latino voters

probably in that order.

Everybody, we need to make sure these precincts are identified and make sure there are poll watchers/advocates there to support these voters!

[ClassWarrior]

13. K&R for election protection... 1-888-DEM-VOTE...

:kick:

NGU.

[David Dunham]

14. But they forgot Steele is black.

[hlthe2b]

16. His supporters ARE NOT....

thus the need to suppress...

[LA lady]

15. I read the whole plan

It says you must have a certificate of appointment to be a poll watcher (you have to be certified to be one here in Louisiana also). So check before thinking you will show up and be allowed to stay. There are laws about these things.

Read the whole Repub poll watcher plan, it has some very interesting information.

[undergroundpanther]

17. I got a letter from Ehrlich, with a

number to call etc. if there are Poll problems, It's a form letter.

When I thought Ehrlich was opposing the voting machines I went to his website to thank him for it..now he sent this..at the end was...
This is the number to call if you encounter anything at the local polls you believe is adversely affecting the administration of the election:
A phone number..
410-260-3807
I guess it's Erlich's..office..

And this email address:
Policy director: Joe Getty
[e-mail]

[JPZenger]

18. Threatening Judges of Elections With Jail if they interfere

On Air America, they said that the GOP manual says to threaten to have the local judges of election thrown in jail if they try to interfere with a GOP challenge of a person trying to vote.

[kster]

19. Challengers, make sure you have your medical ins paid up

cause the Voters are not likely to be put up with your "shit" this time.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

20. K and R, I'm sorry I voted absentee now.