Let us count the ways that the vote could be physically suppressed on Election Day

[blondeatlast]

and perhaps find ways to alleviate the problems, if at all possible. We know about the problems with electronic voting; I'm talking about the other sneaky ways they can rig this thing; most of them right at the polling place.

Voter ID laws: completely unnecessary and likely unConstitutional; designed to suppress voter turnout in precinccts that would run largely Denocratic.

On-site challenges: Pure intimidation of voters, likely again to vote Democratic--purely by means of visually observable characteristics, such as skin-color, having the kids with one, elderly, etc.

Long lines; interminable waits; too few polling booths on-site: Often combined with the problems of inclement weather, mothers with children, hunger, thirst, no way to rest, illness, age, etc. This, I think, was the one that most alarmed me in 2004; I heard firsthand accounts of people who stuck it out on ED even though they had to wait hours in the heat (Phoenix, AZ here--eighty degrees in November and the sun sits low in the sky), but found themselves sorely tested and some who left because they or their bored children couldn't take it. The more I thought about it, the more I realized this was completely unnecessary--and possibly planned.

My own precinct has always had a heavy turnout and we had plenty of booths; most were empty most of the day. A good friend of mine who lives in a heavily Latino, but affluent area of the city said at her place they had three booths and people waited for hours--accident? Could be--but I have enough suspicion to discount any other explanation...

I'm sure there are plenty of others; let's compile a list of the problems as well as the solutions.

[Deep13]

1. weather

Rain in Cleveland may have cost us the presidency in 2004 (in addition to all the fraud and shit.)

[ColbertWatcher]

6. Yes!

I remember seeing pictures of people in Ohio standing outside in the rain.

I suggest everyone take the day off to bring chairs, umbrellas, and food (!) to people waiting to vote.

Make it like a party!

[blondeatlast]

8. I had that same thought--and also toys and such to entertain kids whose moms

or dads have no choice to bring them along.

[ColbertWatcher]

9. Good point.

I wonder how many people don't vote because they don't want to drag their kid out in the rain?

[unpossibles]

2. purging eligible voters from voter rolls

as was done in Florida and elsewhere.

In theory, if someone shows up to vote and are not on the roll, they can vote provisionally, but how often are the provisional ballots even counted?

[blondeatlast]

3. See how quicky we forget? Excellent example one and was likely very effective.

No need to even worry about those pesky provisional ballots; just make sure that a whole big bunch of Floridians (and likely Arizonans, since my state seems to be studying Florida's methods) and voila! No need for overtime. :mad:

[unpossibles]

4. exactly

I read recently about a similar purge in Indiana this year, and remember issues in Ohio in '04 and '06.

I don't get how people forget about these things so quickly, or assume that this doesn't affect them, ie: it's "someone else's problem"

[blondeatlast]

5. Kicking my own for the swing shift. nt

[Thothmes]

7. As far as voter ID laws

the Supreme Court just gave constitutional blessing to the Indiana Photo ID requirement to vote.