OHIO POLLING PLACE ALERT

[Rick Myers]

Heard from a friend in Ohio (he's a Repuke operative)
(don't want to reveal who he is, but he is a player)

He says the Rethugs have organized groups in ALL 88 counties to challenge voters AT THE POLLS. Their goal is to slow the process to a crawl to minimize the vote. This is from someone who KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT. He is a well-placed R and does NOT approve of the idea. He is a Goldwater R, not one of these evil bastards.

OHIO, be on the look out!!!

[OhioChick]

1. Thanks for the heads up. n/t

[ck4829]

2. Did he suggest what to do if 'challenged'?

[WCGreen]

4. If you are worried about being challenged, vote absentee....

[babylonsister]

7. It's a bit late for that, isn't it? nt

[cmd]

57. You can vote at your BOE office

Just walk in and tell them you want to vote early.

[Rick Myers]

60. Good point. You CAN just walk into the BOE and VOTE in Ohio!!!

Thanks...

[WCGreen]

63. But you can't vote for local issues....

[cmd]

74. Sure you can

It's the same as casting an absentee. You get the ballot that matches your precinct.

[WCGreen]

80. I was thinking about the Machines they had set-up...

before that were configured by US House District to let walk in Absebtee voters vote via punch cards...

But yea, it would be easy to pull your actuall ballot up via the new system...

[Clark2008]

68. What's a BOE? Board of Elections?

Sorry - not in Ohio, so it doesn't matter. I just wondered. :)

[cmd]

75. Yes, Board of Elections n/t

[Rick Myers]

10. Call the DNC hotline, NOT your local party

I can tell you for a fact that at least ONE Ohio county Dem Party is WHOLELY OWNED by the Republican county CHAIR!!!

I AM NOT KIDDING!

[The Backlash Cometh]

38. kick

[WCGreen]

3. The dems should head on out to the burbs and challenge the

Rep's....

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. If you are not part of the electoral workers, how do you, as a citizen, get to

"challenge" another citizen?

[murielm99]

6. Call the police, or

ask poll workers to call the police if the process is being disrupted. Call the county clerk and report the disruption. He or she would have to act, no matter what their party.

[Rick Myers]

13. Do not call the cops. And the county cleck is not the responsible party...

In Ohio, each county has an Election BOARD, a separate county agency. Call the DNC hotline. What you have to remember how this operation works... It's designed to SLOW DOWN THE VOTING LINE so that folks leave, rather than wait in line.

[truedelphi]

66. I don't know that they have to do anything

I tried to get the Count of Marin to do something about an individual who
intimidated a voting rights group on Nov 2 2004 - the County sent me to the local District Attorney - who sent me to the FBI.

They (The FBI) seemed to be very Republican and were totally disinterested that in a mostly black neighborhood, a felony under the law was being committed.

It's gonna be worse in Ohio - who ya gonna call?

I suggest video taping it. Then you maybe could make it a media event. Although the law is on our side - if the officials who administrate the law are corrupt and protected by the Republican Party Machinery - whatcha gonna do?

[Rick Myers]

9. In Ohio, Party operative ARE allowed to observe the polling process

Each of these county units has 1 or 2 lawyers on speed-dial. They are allowed to 'challenge' irregularities. The usual attack is to question proof of residency. As long as they SLOW THE PROCESS, they are winning. Again, these 'challenges' come only from pre-arranged observers. I served as a Dem observer in an Ohio election. I was given an ID and had ALL ACCESS to EVERY aspect of the vote count.

The HORROR stories about the ES & S machines would scaed the Jeebus outta you! I saw one machine that registered -2 million votes for Bush in ONE precinct!!! About 230 total votes, MINUS 2 million for Bush!!! I am NOT kidding. I was allowed to disassemble the memory module of the ES&S machine, and a kid could HACK this thing. Completely outdated technology, and this was 2004.


on edit: to fix sp

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

29. So what happens if you are challenged and tell the challenger "go to hell"?

Are they going to forcibly pull you out of the line?

[Rick Myers]

33. They are 'authorized' to be there

You say Go to hell, they hold up the line for 30 minutes, they win. Ask them for ID, ask them to prove they are authorized to be in the polling station. Know the name of your county Repuke Chairman. Grab a phone and ask if the punk wants you to interrupt his or her chairman's busy day with this nonsense. It's purely intimidation, but violence works against YOU. If there is any AGGRESSIVE behavior, step back and call the police. It will rarely get to that, but they get some real knuckle-draggers doing this duty as 'challengers.'

[grizmaster]

72. Here's the RI law that covers the same subject

Anybody can be a passive observer, but credentialed party watchers have special authority to challenge any voter.

But even if the judge (or in RI's case the warden) says the voter isn't allowed to cast a regular ballot they can still insist on voting provisional.

http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE17/17-19/17-...

§ 17-19-22 Party checkers, runners, and watchers. – The officers required to furnish and equip any voting place shall also provide a table in the room where the voting is conducted, outside the enclosed space near the first bipartisan pair of supervisors, at which a representative of the republican party and a representative of the democratic party, bearing credentials signed by the proper ward or town committee chairperson, shall be allowed to sit for the purpose of keeping track of those who are voting, and these representatives, who shall be known as "checkers," may be changed during the day. A representative, known as a "runner," of each of the parties shall be allowed to come to the table at frequent intervals for the purpose of taking whatever list or memoranda the checkers may wish to give the runner. A representative of the republican party and a representative of the democratic party, bearing credentials signed by the proper ward or town committee chairperson, shall also be allowed outside the enclosed place to observe the voting and assist the checkers, and these representatives shall be known as "watchers." The watchers and any election official shall have the right to challenge the right to vote of any person offering himself or herself as a voter.

[babylonsister]

8. 1-888-Dem-Vote...the DNC hotline. Register problems here. Take

this number with you!

[robinlynne]

27. I hear it is much better to call the PFAW hotline: 1-866-ourvote.

PFAW=people for the american way, one of the EP organizations putting together the pollworkers for democracy project.

[babylonsister]

36. We need one place to put all the applicable numbers so people

can jot them down and keep them close.

[PrimeRibGuy]

35. Boy

I am sure that number will get a lot of action next Tuesday!

[babylonsister]

37. Welcome to DU, PrimeRibGuy!

:hi:

[Rick Myers]

40. Welcome to DU!!!

Send up some prime rib!!!

[Kukesa]

43. Or, 1-877-DEM-VOTE (1-877-336-8683). nt

[C_U_L8R]

11. This should be a nationwide alert

people need to know what to expect and what to do if their vote is interfered with.
It should be in public service announcements across all media.

Don't let anyone tell you you cannot vote !!!!!!!

[Doctor_J]

12. if the first two challengers are taken out on gurneys, things will

speed up right away.

[bullimiami]

14. ahhh

:)

[MGD]

15. Have a photo ID or recent utilities statement...or an aluminum baseball bat.

Or a can of tar, a sack full of feathers, and a wooden rail.

[Rick Myers]

16. IF you ARE challenged, request a PROVISIONAL BALLOT

They MUST give it to you!

edit: and STILL call the DNC hotline immediately!!!

[OhioChick]

17. You're absolutely right.

During the primaries, I voted provisional. (and called EVERYONE about it)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. K&R for this excellent and very timely thread...

[Canuckistanian]

19. Take names, get in their faces

Go in groups and ask them (politely) if they intend to disrupt voting.

Rememeber, there are more of us than there are of them.

[Rick Myers]

26. Have a camera phone around. They WON'T want to be photographed

but it is YOUR RIGHT!!!

[Canuckistanian]

64. Yeah, I left that out, bring a camera

Document everything, especially faces and suspicious activities.

[Kukesa]

71. Perfect! nt

[buddysmellgood]

20. This makes me want to go to a heavily Republican area and do the same thing.

But it's just TOO DAMN WRONG. It's unAmerican an I won't be a part of it. Fuck them.

[Doctor_J]

21. You should revela who he is, by the way

They will be alot less courageous if there is a light shining on them. Hiding him is abetting him

[Rick Myers]

25. No. He is one of the good guys. He HATES seeing his party overrun

And he is an honorable man. I've known him for about 8 years, and he has always been straight-up. BTW: The R's in Ohio attempted the very same thing in 04!

He is a friend, and I trust him. He is in a position to provide VERY valuable information AFTER the election!!!

[Doctor_J]

30. Bullshit

if Olbermann were to get his name today, this would be on the air tomorrow or Monday when there MIGHT be a chance of fixing it before it happens. And what was his purpose for telling you? And there raren't any good Republicans right now.

[Rick Myers]

39. Everything they are setting up is provided for in ORC

Laws that just haven't been used in many years.

This person is in the position to provide very valuable information after the election. This operation was used pretty widely in 2004, but got no coverage. I've been promised an update on the processing of absentee ballots tomorrow afternoon.

Outing this source would negatively effect this person's career, and I do not wish to be part of that. The information has always been rock solid and accurate.

If the election SHOULD turn out to be contested, I will ask this person if I can reveal an identity. This person, BTW, is NO fan of Blackwell, considering him a criminal!!

[Doctor_J]

47. What are you talking about?

Outing this source would negatively effect this person's career

and that's more important than salvaging this democracy???

very valuable information after the election. This operation was used pretty widely in 2004, but got no coverage

and this year will be different, no doubt. WTF good is any information going to be after the election?. Maybe the "contest" will get a paragraph in the Blade on page 8, right after 7 pages of celebration of Smirk retaining Congress.

Sorry, dude. If you have this info and don't do anything with it, you're just as culpable as Blackwell.

[Rick Myers]

51. They are operating just inside the ORC

Ohio Revised Code. What they are trying is not a crime, per se, only if it escalates in a specific incident. This is a desparate tactic, but not an outright crime. Like I said, they did the EXACT same thing in 2004, but it got very little coverage. It's not a story until after something goes wrong.


And comparing me to Blackwell is a little over the top there, Sparky. :grr:

[Rick Myers]

45. To answer the why question...

I have done lib talk radio in several markets during the 2000 and 2004 races... He became a behind-the-scene contact because we see eye-to-eye on several issues, and we are big enough to reach 'across the aisle.' We have bacome good friends, and he has always provided rock-solid info on background.

[Doctor_J]

49. Which is in this case is absolutely useless

:shrug:

[Rick Myers]

52. I post here with my REAL NAME. I hide from NO MAN!

There is no story until there is a violation.

What's the headline, 'There MIGHT be voter fraud in Ohio?' Well, duh...

[Doctor_J]

54. Then why bring it up at all?

If the Dems were planning on making it difficult for ReNAMBLAcans to vote, some a Repuke got wind of it a week before, it would be on hate radio 24/7 until someone did something about it. Even it were "just inside the Code". So you find out about this, and we do nothing but tell each other to "be careful".

We will regain control over our government when we do more than commiserate and wring our hands.

[Rick Myers]

56. Outing this person serves absolutly NO purpose.

What is your headline: "GOP Operative says party will act within the Law?" "GOP say game plan this year same as 2004?"

I've been in the political game for a long time, and I am just as disgusted as you with the state of the Nation. I am a veteran, a voter, I've served jury duty and I am a LIBERAL. I've SWORN to defend this country from ALL threats, foreign AND domestic. No one despises BushCo more than me.

The news story breaks WHEN someone ON TUESDAY gets 'challenged' and it gets documented. Until then, this is all theory. And you want me to ruin someone life because he happens to be part of the "LOYAL OPPOSITION?"

[Doremus]

78. Agreed. This is not news. It's already known there will be challengers.

They did the same thing in '04. Both the DNC and Kerry campaigns knew well in advance about the repuke challenges. Dems recruited extra poll watchers (many of them lawyers) and provided training sessions.

The fact that they're doing it again isn't news. I received an email from PFAW (I think that's who it was) about a week or two ago recruiting poll watchers again to defend against challengers.

[Jack Rabbit]

22. We will be watching for this kind of thing on election

If the results are unexpected, they will not be accepted.

This kind of nonsense is blatant election fraud.

[Rick Myers]

23. More on the ES&S machine I was allowed to 'autopsy'

The memory module, which stores the votes from each machine, is a simple plastic box about the size of a pack of unfiltered smokes. There is a single circuit board inside, supporting a pair of EEPROMS. We assume one holds the 'security software' and the other is the primary memory for vote count. The box is powered by a battery that is HARD-WIRED to the circuit board, requiring ES&S contract service to replace it.

Okay, so how does thing thing work? Well, not very well. It sits in a slot on the voting machine (computer) at the polls. When I say is 'sits' there, I mean it drops into a slot, but is NOT secured in any way. No clip or anything to hold it in place. (Seriously!!!) So how does it get data from the computer (voting machine) to the memory module? Sit down...

Infrared! When the memory is in the slot, it's SUPPOSED to line up a pair of LEDs, one in the voting machine (computer) and the other in the memory module. But, keep in mind there is NOTHING to secure this connection, an election worker can lift the module out of the voting machine at any time, including when it is 'writing data' to the module!!!

Anyone with the slightest tech skills will understand that this is an IDIOTIC DESIGN, but those same machines are in use this election in Ohio!!!

[Zodiak]

24. Thanks for the heads up.

Seriously, there is a LOT of anger in Ohio because of 2004. This will not turn out well for the Republicans. It might get people to change their votes right there at the polling place.

The American public is sooo tired of the dirty tricks. It is no longer about party...it is about country.

[Rick Myers]

31. There is ONLY one statewide race in play

AG, Dann v. Mongomery. Dann doesn't have statewide name recognition and a bit of a camera whore. Plus, he's a lawyer who has had his own share of tribulations... But, still, PLEASE VOTE DANN FOR AG!!! Betty was SoS prior to Blackwell.

[OzarkDem]

73. Dann is a hero

he's the one who filed lawsuits that cracked open all the GOP corruption in Ohio. He's gone way out on a limb and taken a lot of risks to reveal the crooks.

[OzarkDem]

28. Thanks for the "heads up"

It sounds like typical GOP.

[mtnester]

32. I will be in Franklin County AGAIN for Election Protection

Saw it all in 04, expect to see it worse next Tuesday

Besides the Dem hotline, also can call 1-866-OUR-VOTE which is the election protection hotline.

[stillcool]

34. everybody needs to be on guard...

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--recountrematch1030oct30,0,7669069.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

Do different states have different criteria for challenging voters?

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.

The purpose of a challenge is to question the eligibility of a voter to vote at that precinct.
An election judge and an authorized challenger or other voter?may challenge an individual whom the person knows or has reason to believe is not eligible to vote at that precinct. Minnesota statutes 204C.07 and 204C.12 address challenges to voters.
Challenger Appointment
Partisan appointments - Major political parties can appoint voters from that party to act as challengers.
Non-Partisan appointments - Non partisan candidates can appoint voters to act as challengers at the polling place for each precinct.
Only one challenger for each candidate or from each party is allowed in the polling place at any given time.

[durtee librul]

46. I dunno, but I would think

that if this was going on, the first call I would make would be to my local tv station and then to a national affliate and turn over the cell phone video of the incident to them if they couldn't make it.

With all the attention that is going on with the voting machines, I would think the locals would love to have a 'heads up' on a possible issue....at least one of the national stations I would think would give some time as well.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Doctor_J]

48. The TV stations, local and national, are run by ultra-rw

republicans. that's why the massive fraud and voter purges in OH in 04 were barely mentioned.

[Rick Myers]

53. Local and nation media would do NOTHING with it, unless

it looked like Macaca's henchmen stomping that guy in VA. Local media wouldn't touch it, because they make shitloads of cash off BOTH PARTIES ads.

[ellie]

61. Thanks for this info

I moved within the last year to a house in Toledo, I was living out in the 'burbs. I didn't get my driver's license changed because I don't have the time to do it. I will take other ID with me. My old polling place was in a really nice park. Now it is at a school across the street from my house, within walking distance.

[Kukesa]

41. I'm an Ohio poll worker (a.k.a. judge), Rick,

and will be on the alert for any challenges.

The phone number to report problems or ask for assistance is:

1-877-DEM-VOTE (1-877-336-8683).

Thanks for the heads up.

[Doctor_J]

50. If their aim is to slow things up, what good is making a phone call?

and what are the chances of "provsional ballots" beng counted? And if they are counted in a month or so, after Whitewell and DeSwine have already claimed their new offices, then what?

Doing something about this on Wednesday is useless.

[Rick Myers]

55. Gettin' a bit racist there, aren't we???

Loosen your bullets, cowboy...

edit: What good is getting arrested at the polls for being a dolt?

[Kukesa]

77. And your suggestion is??? nt

[Eric J in MN]

42. I hope Ohio elects a Democratic Secretary of State...

...in spite of Republican dirty tricks, and that she can clean things up going forward.

[struggle4progress]

44. No surprise: they did that in 04. Good thing I don't live in Ohio, cuz

I'd be sorely tempted to take a frickin baseball bat to the polls with me.

[Lefty-Taylor]

58. Democrats with videocameras should be at every polling place.

Postthe footage on the web. Show the 'thugs in action.

[Rick Myers]

59. While you can come in to vote and bring a camera,

you would not be allowed to stand there as an observer unless you could video thru a window from the 'official' perimeter. I believe that is 100 feet in Ohio. IF there are Dems as 'official observers,' they could, theoretically, use a video camera. I would suggest using a phone with video capability for ON THE SPOT recording.

[Imagevision]

62. We should be able to ask for help/assistance from Howard Dean?

you would think huh?!!

[NoBushSpokenHere]

65. When asked the other day about the RCC pulling money

out of the DeWine television ads, he smirked and said that they are pulling money for the tv ads but they are putting it on the ground. I have heard that the rethuglicans have hotels booked in numerous locations and people who are going door to door, etc.

The rethuglicans hid their plan of using challengers from the Dems and it appears there are several counties where there will not be Dem observers inside the polls. BUT the Dems have been begging for people to help them with exit polls, and are planning to hit the ground hard through and including Tuesday.

BUT again volunteers are needed. I think alot of Democrats believe we are far enough ahead in the polls that they cannot get by with their dirty games. Please pass the word for everyone who is able to do anything between now and the election to get into the Democrat Headquarters in their county and volunteer to do it!

As for you friend, Rick, I agree that his name needs to be kept out of it, he could be useful later. Also, look at Sherole Eaton, she stood for democracy but very few have stood for her. A decision like that needs to be made by the person who is making it, not someone who isn't dependent upon the income or doesn't have to face the ramifications of such.

[Eurobabe]

67. 3 words: VIDEO THE VOTE

n/t

[LittleWoman]

69. Slow down and take a deep breath

According to my Precinct Election Officials Training Manual--voters may be challenged ONLY by a Precinct Election Official and only on the following grounds:
1. Not a resident of Franklin County
2. Not a resident of Ohio
3. Not a U.S. citizen
4. Not of legal voting age

I expected your scenario in the 2004 election and it did not happen and the rules have changed since then. As a poll worker I sincerely doubt that this will go anywhere. In the past when we have had any kind of problem, the individual voter was taken to the side while the problem was resolved and the line of voters proceeded as before. I do not think poll workers, who start their day at 5:30 am by the way, are going to allow things to get bogged down as we cannot close the polls until the last person in line at 7:30 pm has voted.

Certified observers of both major parties are allowed to be present, but they must present the proper credentials from the Board of Elections. I believe they are not allowed to interfere in the voting process and I for one will call the Board if they try anything.

Based on the Court decision yesterday, I would advise anyone who is going to vote in Ohio to bring their driver's license or state id to the polls. If you do not have either of those bring a current uility bill, ie within the last 6 months, in your name. If you do not have that you can bring any mail from a government entity such as the city, county, state or us government. Letters from the Board of Elections do not count. Passports and military ids which do not show your address will not be accepted. You will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot if you provide the last 4 digits of your social security number. If all else fails you can sign an affirmation and vote a provisional ballot. With the new machines all provisional ballots in Franklin county are now voted on the regular voting machines.

Please do not wear any campaign buttons or t-shirts to the polls as you will be asked to remove them and keep your party endorsed literature in your pocket until you get into the voting booth and do not pass it to anyone else when you have finished voting.

[krispos42]

70. EVERYBODY DRESS REPUBLICAN

Like the dittoheads in Rush Limp-bough's thankfully defunct TV show...

Remember, shout "INCEST!" and spray the mace INTO the eyes, and sweep back and forth for maximum effectiveness.

<edit: fixed major typo...>

[AzDar]

76. Kick n/t

[Doremus]

79. This isn't news. It's already known.

They did it in '04 too. Groups like PFAW and others have been recruiting and training poll watchers to keep tabs on the challengers.


I'm going to stand vigil at the BoE when the polls close. I can't stomach another election night watching the MSM flip the numbers while I sit helplessly by. I'm taking my teenagers and some signs and standing outside while the repukes play fast and loose with our democracy. I want them to know SOMEBODY KNOWS.

Those of you planning to go to victory parties might want to instead take your fellow revelers to the BoE ... especially if there's another "perplexing" flip of the numbers around 10:00 or so ....