Big G.O.P. Bid to Challenge Voters at Polls in Key State

[G_j]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/23/politics/campaign/23vote.html?th=&oref=login&pagewanted=print&position=

October 23, 2004

Big G.O.P. Bid to Challenge Voters at Polls in Key State
By MICHAEL MOSS

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.

Party officials say their effort is necessary to guard against fraud arising from aggressive moves by the Democrats to register tens of thousands of new voters in Ohio, seen as one of the most pivotal battlegrounds in the Nov. 2 elections.

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.
..more..

[Birthmark]

1. I dare them to challenge me.

I DARE them. }(

[EastOhioDem]

7. I agree!

I dare anyone to challenge my vote! I'd probably end up in jail..cause I'd put somebody's lights out! Ohio voter here who will not allow any bs to stop me.

[annabanana]

8. just don't get yourself arrested BEFORE you get into the polling booth

This is the excuse they want to call the authorities, "secure" the polling places, maybe stop the election and declare martial law.

[EastOhioDem]

10. don't worry..:)

I'll make damn sure I vote first. :) But, this thread has me thinking maybe I should ask for election day off so I can go to my polling place and stand guard.

[G_j]

9. **remember everyone bring lots of ID !!

drivers license, voter registration card, utility bill w/ name and address etc, etc...

[still_one]

2. another reason to vote early or by absentee

We should put our people there to insure haressment does not occur

[G_j]

16. good advice: vote early

I'll be voting today

[DeepModem Mom]

3. This is the lead story in today's NYT -- very serious stuff --

and other disturbing stories are coming fast and furious. I'm afraid the theft is underway, and I hope we have the resources to stop it.

[G_j]

4. this certainly looks like it could get messy

"Ohio election officials said that by state law, the parties' challengers would have to show "reasonable" justification for doubting the qualifications of a voter before asking a poll worker to question that person. And, the officials said, challenges could be made on four main grounds: whether the voter is a citizen, is at least 18, is a resident of the county and has lived in Ohio for the previous 30 days."

....aside from looking too young, how can someone 'suspect' these things by simply looking at a person?



<snip>
"Our concern is Republicans will be challenging in large numbers for the purpose of slowing down voting, because challenging takes a long time,'' said David Sullivan, the voter protection coordinator for the national Democratic Party in Ohio. "And creating long lines causes our people to leave without voting.''"

[annabanana]

5. It's DESIGNED to get messy.......

And if people get angry, there are excuses to call in police. The more disruption, the easier it is to challege the result and the more likely it is to end up in a (controllable) court.

[Kingshakabobo]

24. You are being paranoid. Order shall be maintained.

Sarcasm

[endnote]

21. Right, if you look like you are from the ME you'll be challanged

That's the bottom-line

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

6. When Rehnquist and the SC takes up the issue ...

You know that Big Bill will be VERY familiar with the specifics. After all, he was intimately involved in, then 30 years lied about, intimidating black voters in Phoenix:

<http://www.geocities.com/justice_watch/rehnquist_information.html>

[Gabi Hayes]

13. no kidn.....he committed PERJURY during his nomination hearings

he should have gone to jail instead of the bench

[annabanana]

11. and make sure PROVISIONAL BALLOTS are in plentiful supply

We should be facilitating the printing of stacks of provisional ballots (should there be a need)

[G_j]

23. more good advice! n/t

[Pump Man]

12. Sounds like we got them on the run---Vote MSNBC poll

Ohio turning blue dark blue

[EastOhioDem]

14. I'm working to make sure it does

All I know is in my area of Ohio, way more Kerry signs than bush. If Ohio goes blue..I'm havin a party! :)

[StClone]

15. I smell something rotting!

They are confident they will find some fraudulent votes registered and cast in Ohio. Why are they so confident? Do you smell it?

[EastofEdon]

17. VOTE EARLY n-t

[Lefty48197]

18. Solution: Vote first. Punch second.

.

[G_j]

20. not really

that sort of disruption would interfere with people who haven't voted.
I trust you are just kidding, but as someone pointed out above, such disruptions are what some repugs want.

[tomfodw]

19. I hope the Ohio Democratic Party is mobilizing as well

We were all taken by surprise in 2000. We don't have that excuse this year. If the Democratic Party is not prepared and preparing to fight these bastards, that would be inexcusable and unforgiveable.

[ciaobox]

22. There is a VERY easy solution to this

Dems and the DNC need to distribute video cameras to random voters going to polls throughout the day ALL OVER THE STATE. If someone gives voters trouble, camera on. No rethuglican wants to be on CNN trying to disenfranchise voters.