Ohio Court Limits 'Challengers' at Polling Stations

[meti57b]

Judge rules that parties may send only one operative to each site, undermining GOP plans to aggressively inspect voter credentials.
By Henry Weinstein
Times Staff Writer

October 31, 2004

CINCINNATI — A state court judge issued a sweeping order Saturday limiting the number of party representatives that could be deployed to challenge voters at Ohio polling places on election day.

In Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John P. O'Donnell issued a permanent injunction barring multiple challengers from being stationed at polling places. The ruling, if upheld, would force the Republicans to cut back the thousands of poll watchers they plan to send to voting locations Tuesday.

Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, a Republican, had issued a directive allowing each party to station one challenger for each precinct. Since polling places often represent several precincts, several challengers could have shown up in one location. Under O'Donnell's ruling, only one challenger from each party will be allowed in a polling place.

~snip~

The Ohio Republican Party has promised to aggressively challenge the qualifications of voters because it says that many are fraudulently registered. The GOP had registered more than 3,600 people as "challengers" for Tuesday's election.

~snip~

my comment (paraphrased to stay within the 3-4 paragraphs rule): there are apparently some other issues regarding whether Ohio's challenge procedures are constitutional. These may still be resolved in other federal courts in Ohio. And of course, "sorry if this is a dupe", I did a search and didn't find this one.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ohio31oct31,1,121061.story

[jimshoes]

1. How does one challenge

the challenger? What right does a pefect stranger have coming into a precinct he neither lives in or works in to challenge a voter who actually does live there? How does this person know whom to challenge? Will they be challenging indiscriminately? Will they be able to press charges if I knock their teeth out? I need to know!

[acmavm]

2. Oh, that was the first good laugh I've had all day. Thank you from the

bottom of my heart, I needed it.

[Nordic]

3. maybe that will stop some riots

because if they let GOPers do that, I guarantee you there will be physical violence.

[Celebrandil]

4. Sick...

To my european ears this is the sickest aspects of the election I have heard of. How hard can it be? One man, one vote! Oh... everyone is not allowed to vote? in a democracy? Multiple registrations? How can that ever be possible? There must be some kind of record of where people live. Why do you hear such crazy things from America, but not from anywhere else?

[saigon68]

5. Use Husky White Thugs to intimidate the elderly black voter

Make sure the Sheets and hoods stay in the car trunk.

[DuaneBidoux]

6. This is quite good news

One challenger per polling place does not harassment make and I think at that rate they're ablility to "challenge" these guys might end up being the last of the problems faced by Dems in Ohio.

Notice to the subtle but distinct difference between the Rethug judges ruling and the other judge's ruling. This is why Shrub-co could be so damaging if he is able to continue stacking the courts with quasi-fascists for the next four years.

[goclark]

11. Sounds like "The Boys In The Hood" need

to take their senior aunties and mommies to the polls.

I bet if my brothers come up there to stand in line to vote with their elders,all the little Rethug wimps will fade into the Bushes.

I have been African American long enough to know that our young men don't let ANYBODY mess with their mother, grandmother or auntie.

These wimps better back off!

[DuaneBidoux]

12. Hey, and if you're in Ohio and it's raining tell those aunties and

grannies that they ain't gonna' melt in the rain either!!

[et in Arcadia ego...]

7. Are 'stun guns' allowed in polling places?

Just wonderin' if maybe I should get one, you know, just in case I may need to zap a Republican for getting in my way of voting...:smoke:

[Tennessee Gal]

9. How about mace?

[cubsfan forever]

14. Hey, whatever it takes n/t

Professor 2

[Mountainman]

8. There will be fighting I'm sure

Just from the feelings of some DUers here, me included. If some ass hole freeper type wanted to challenge me he/she would be eating some of their teeth for lunch besides having to get their nose straightened.

One challenger per polling place knocked on their asses would keep the repubs busy trying to replace challengers.

[PROUDNWLIBERAL]

10. Challenge the challengers

Ask the challenger for their identification. Bring a piece of paper and pen; write down their name and address, and tell them that you will be giving this to your attorney and that you will be including them personnelly on the lawsuit that you will be filing. After you get their name and address tell them that you will be sending their information to other groups to respond to their actions in the polling places. Scare the shit out of these people---remember they are a frightened group---intimidate, intimidate, intimidate!

[goclark]

13. Right!! Raise your voice and be politely assertive

When you go to the polls be very polite to the voters around you in line. Introduce yourself and make nicey nicey. Hopefully, they will tell you their names. You may need them as witnesses later.

It is always better to go with a friend/relative that can be your witness and keep you calm and on track. :)

If someone challenges you, demand to know their name, and repeat their name. Get out your paper and write their name and "position."
Time of day, color of their shirt, look them over as you write color of shoes etc. Do not tell them what you are writing, that will scare the crap out of them.

Wimps get scared when you start defining the information.

Someone once told me a way to complain when nothing else seems to work. It has worked every time, like a charm, for me.

When someone challenges you, be calm but strong with your voice.
Take names/dates/surroundings and REPEAT out loud exactly what they are saying to you.

Then, when you have enough info on them say, " I am extremely upset by the way that you have approached me with this issue. I am so upset that I will have to speak to your superior!"

When you get the name of the superior, tell that person: I am upset and IRATE, please spell your name for me. Do you have a ID number Johnny/Joan whatever?

Joan, I am so upset and disturbed by the insensitive way that I have been treated, as much as I want to believe that you can help me, you can not! I need to speak to the person that handles the EXTREMELY IRATE person!

At least 98 % of the time, they will either handle your problem nicely or refer you to someone who CAN help you because most people are afraid to deal with someone that is assertive enough to demand respect.

I will be a poll worker on Nov. 2nd.

I am going to review all of the rules so that I can be well prepared to make voting a pleasant experience for everyone.