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Tue 2 Nov, 2004 09:29 am
Quote:CINCINNATI (AP) - A federal appeals court has cleared the way for political parties to challenge voters' eligibility at polling places throughout Ohio, ruling early Tuesday that their presence on Election Day was allowed under state law.
Overturning the orders of two federal judges from the day before, a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 early Tuesday to grant emergency stays that will allow Republicans and Democrats one challenger per precinct each. The judges also consolidated the two appeals, which stemmed from separate lawsuits in Cincinnati and Akron.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041102/D863NDGO0.html
Well, at least some judges have some sense. It is so important to monitor these things, and attempt to stop election shenanigans!
It's a good thing...can't hurt
I saw on the news that PA has polling places in bars. I thought this was against the law. You're not even supposed to have alcohol near a polling place.
Also in homes and businesses.
These things need to be taken care of-- along with people thinking you can just vote anywhere. This has been quite an eye-opening experience.
I'd love to know the basis these folks have for challenging voters. I've been hearing that in one state or another, the challenges have been to Native Americans (in one county in So. Dakota), Latinos (in a county in Georgia), and this business in Ohio.
Of course, I can't imagine this is all part of a coordinated strategy on behalf of one party to cut down on minority folks voting. Perish the thought!
To me, fraud is fraud, no matter by whom it is perpetrated. I think that some people use race as a red herring, in order to avoid the issue of election wrongdoing.
They need to be registered to vote.
They need to either have their registration card--or ID so they can prove who they are, and their name can be marked off of the registration list.
In the absence of this--people can vote as many times in as many places as they choose. They can be paid to go around voting in different precincts.
It is incredibly easy to register to vote. No one wants to keep Americans from voting. But, there are rules, and the rules are there for a reason.
Lash wrote:I saw on the news that PA has polling places in bars. I thought this was against the law. You're not even supposed to have alcohol near a polling place.
In Brazil it's illegal to sell alcohol (
anywhere) within a certain number of hours from the election.
I always thought that was a bit harsh but the standards in the US, as far as elections are concerned, never cease to amaze me.
And I think if you're dead, or a fictitious character out of a novel, you will probably be challenged.
Where I live, each would-be voter shows his/her registration card to the poll worker. I wonder what the issue is in places where these volunteer observers need to be involved.
But I totally agree re corpses at the polls. Any of these trying to vote today should be severely chastized!
I've only voted 5 times this morning, now holding out for increase in $ for my next vote. I love capitalism.
Where I live, each would-be voter shows his/her registration card to the poll worker. I wonder what the issue is in places where these volunteer observers need to be involved.
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Because some people who have either never voted before, or don't think the law applies to them--are yelling about being disenfranchised when they are told they're in the wrong polling place, or they don't have ID, or they just showed us thinking they can vote, even though they aren't registered.
I'm glad there are observers. In 2000, you'd think Republicans were trying to keep blacks and elderly people from voting. Now, there will be witnesses.
Lash wrote:
I'm glad there are observers. In 2000, you'd think Republicans were trying to keep blacks and elderly people from voting. Now, there will be witnesses.
I'd "think"? Given the folks these observers are checking on now, it's obvious who they want to discourage from voting...
D'artagnan wrote:Where I live, each would-be voter shows his/her registration card to the poll worker. I wonder what the issue is in places where these volunteer observers need to be involved.
But I totally agree re corpses at the polls. Any of these trying to vote today should be severely chastized!
And their voter registration cards taken away!
D'artagnan wrote:Lash wrote:
I'm glad there are observers. In 2000, you'd think Republicans were trying to keep blacks and elderly people from voting. Now, there will be witnesses.
I'd "think"? Given the folks these observers are checking on now, it's obvious who they want to discourage from voting...
Yeah. Unregistered voters and cheaters.
Lash wrote:
Quote:I'm glad there are observers. In 2000, you'd think Republicans were trying to keep blacks and elderly people from voting. Now, there will be witnesses.
And since the 35,000 registered voters the Republicans plan to challenge are in primarily minority precincts.......that would give the impression that the Republicans are trying to keep Blacks from voting in Ohio. Ummm.......or maybe it's just a little coincidence.
I wonder if there is any built-in sanction to keep the observers honest?
I'm trying to imagine, as a "volunteer" being allowed to challenge someone in my own precinct, let alone a precinct where I'd never been. And honestly, aren't these things they're supposed to be checking a standard operating procedure? That's what WE have election officials for in this state.
That's also what the lower court judges said, Piffka. They said it should be left to the poll judges (2 Republican and 2 Democrat). They said it would be a hindrance to voters and unconstitutional. But four of the 6th Circuit Court disagreed.
However, I wonder why they didn't rule based on the fact that only some (minority) precincts are targeted. It seems like racial discrimination to me.
I'd think targeting only minority precincts would seem so obvious.
This is not against or pre one of the candidates/parties.
When I had heard such stories (like where polling stations are situated, 'volunteer observers by party members' et. al. ) about half a year ago, I would have thought of a report about elections in Uganda or Swaziland.
Thanks to A2K, I now know, it's in the country, which brought democracy back here.
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