Hateful rumors--intimidation at

[Barney Rocks]

the polls. Have other people been hearing rumors that the Rethuglicans are going to be intimidating people at the polls? I have heard stories that they are going to be challenging people who come to vote in Ohio? (What does this entail--and how can they get away with this?)

I have also heard several tales that they are going to intimidate voters who have felonies on their records or outstanding warrents. The rumor is going around that they are going to be watching the polls and will arrest people with outstanding warrents when they try to come and vote.

I hope I am not over-blowing this--but this is very very frightening and we need to be on top of it. What can we do? (I know that I am going to protect myself by paying a parking ticket that was overdue--it is frightening to think that some dumb thing like that might mean a warrent issued in my name and that my name might be on a list.

I am very very scared for our democracy. They are going to try to steal it--I just know it. We need to warn people. We need to get the word out and we need to protect ourselves. Ideas please?

[DenverDem]

1. It worked in Florida in 2000.

Polling place "observers" demanding identification of minorities attempting to vote.

Police license checks on the streets leading to polls, arresting drivers with "too many people in their cars" etc.

Post election ballot destruction. 40,000+ ballots were destroyed in Duval County. (You never heard about THAT did you. It happened on the top floor of Jacksonville city hall.)

There will be a lot more of the same, requiring vigilance across the country, but especially in battleground states.

[loveable liberal]

2. a) people outside the polls wont be able to identify you.

b) poe-poe need probable cause, so dont smack em in the head and push the fright wingers down.

The only people that can identify you are those that sign you in, and they would need to run your name and date of birth to confirm a warrant. in order to do that they need cop 'pooters and I dont think they'll have cop 'pooters on site. Why would they?

[Barney Rocks]

6. I was told that the cops

were looking at the voter rolls right now, and that they are going to mark in some way the names of people with a warrent. Supposedly they would have someone inform them if one of the people that they want sign in. They could get them when they come out--if a cop knows that they are looking for a person with a certain description--ie--30 year old AA male, blah blah it is easy to stop everyone that looks a little like that. Besides, they also have access to the last known car the person was driving--license plate etc. Why not hang in the parking lot--and run the plates? They would know if any people on their list showed up?

There are so many nasty tricks they could play that it is endless. Our country has been hijacked. Their is no telling what these fascists will do to retain power.

[loveable liberal]

10. i dont know where you live, but here in the most populated

county in minnesota, the cops i dispatch for just dont have the time to sit in a parking lot and run plates. Maybe they do elsewhere, but certainly not here. Besides, i dont think having a warrant prevents someone from voting. And if they do find someone with a warrant, here it takes up at least an hour of the officers time if not more booking and writing the report. So if one person does get arrested, they better have a whole lot of cops out there, with a lot of time to waste, looking for "people" who may fit the description of someone who looks like......but ill ask a sgt and get back to you in a minute.

[Barney Rocks]

13. what if it was for something

serious? The man I talked to was in Los Angeles County (pretty busy) but the cops had been after him for a long time--he had been involved in a gang when he was a kid (but he NEVER did anything wrong--he just hung with them). Anyway--he got arrested in 2002 when he went in to vote--they wanted him for "conspiracy to commit murder" it is kind of a complicated thing--I know he is completely innocent.

But the important thing is that they got him when he showed up to vote--and there are rumors they are going to be even worse in this election. That was why I got really worried...(paying my parking ticket was just paranoia--I am sure they would be after the bigger fish) but it would still intimidate people if cops are watching--don't you think? I mean it makes me awfully nervous.

[loveable liberal]

16. im pretty sure that it wouldnt be worth the time for a parking ticket

they, might impound your vehicle for unpaid tickets, but i dont think they'd arrest you. One of the sgts just told me you can vote even though you have a warrant. only convicted felons cant vote, isnt that right?

[Barney Rocks]

17. yeah--I was just being paranoid

about it--but I am sure it would only be people like the guy I talked to who they REALLY wanted. Then again--just having a cop around can intimidate innocent people (look just the thought frightened me enough to make me pay up on my ticket). And if a person actually is guilty of even a small thing--wouldn't they be really scared?

Also--why are they making some people go to police stations to vote? Some people will be scared to go there....

[life_long_dem]

18. Don't Police belong to a Union?

I thought they endorsed DFL candidates. What about the assault weapons ban expiring, why do they want bush to win?

[loveable liberal]

19. most officers i speak with cant stand bush

there are differences between older and newer cops. I believe the police union has endorsed kerry. Newer officers see their role in the community differently than the older ones. Its kinda hard to explain.

[slackmaster]

20. Police belong to many different unions

And several congresses of unions. They're all over the map politically. Local police unions tend to reflect the political makeup of their local communities (because their members live there). :dunce:

[havocmom]

3. One would be wise to expect it to happen any place they think they can

get away with it. Weren't there reports of road blocks on rural roads in primarily black areas of Florida in 2000?

[Steelangel]

4. Contact DNC to let them know about that?

[harpo]

5. vote anyway...don't fall for their trap trying to scare people away

early vote :)
absentee vote :)

[Geek_Girl]

7. Early voting if you can

I've voted and so has my husband. I'm not going anywhere near the polls on Nov 2 I know it's going to be a mad house.

[Barney Rocks]

9. That is smart.

I can't help but wonder--is this why the Rethugs have made such an effort to encourage early voting? Do they know that a lot of bad things are going to go down at the polls? And is this why so many of them seem "smug" about the election?

I don't want to be completely paranoid--but this just makes so much sense to me...

[Ruby Romaine]

8. Call 1-866-OUR VOTE for assistance

[Vincardog]

11. Vote EARLY. The first day possible in your state Then get 100 more Dens. .

and help them vote early. I want this over before Nov. 2. Get every one to vote before election day. Retirement homes. Unions, Working people, any body you can think of that has a stake in the future. Vote Early and throw the Thugs out.

[Barney Rocks]

14. yes--I think this

is the best advice. Then on election day--I can relax--I have already done my part.

Thank you!

[Doctor_J]

12. it's a foregone conclusion

over the past few weeks you have seen the debates, the job report, and iraq render their chances for a legitimate victory almost nil. by 11/2 their only hope to retain the WH will be physical force. sadly, the media, if they report it at all, will paint it as the fault of the people they are terrorizing.

welcome to the banana republics

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

15. There is a coalition of organizations called Election Protection

that will have volunteer attorneys, law students and others (especially people who are fluent in Spanish) at polling places, mainly in minority precincts, to watch for intimidation and other problems with people not being able to vote. I will be spending all day on election day doing this, and more volunteers will be welcome. If anybody is interested in getting involved in this effort, check out http://www.electionprotection2004.org. Don't let them steal another election.