Judge orders (Indiana) GOP to follow rules on challenges

[Newsjock]

Source: Indianapolis Star

Marion County Judge John Hanley this afternoon ordered the Marion County Republican Party distribute copies of an 11-day-old order to all its challengers at the polls this afternoon.

... In October, both parties had agreed to distribute copies of Hanley's order to all their credentialed challengers before the election. Democrats said dozens of Republican challengers at the polls today had never heard of it, and they filed today's emergency motion over concerns the issue could crop up.

... The removal of two Republican election workers from a Warren Township polling site - for using improper methods to challenge voters' rights to cast a ballot - has prompted local Republican Party leaders to issue a statement of regret.

... The officials were reportedly challenging voters with information obtained through party affiliation reports, which is not one of the accepted challenges such as a person's address, age or lack of ID.

Read more: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081104/NEWS0502/81104001

[RainDog]

1. If Obama is going to win Indiana, he'll do so with four areas

Indianapolis (Marion Co. area)
Gary (Lake Co. area)
South Bend (St. Joseph Co.)
Bloomington (Monroe Co.)

This are the most populated areas. Hamilton Co. is supposedly some sort of indicator of the state as a whole.

[McCamy Taylor]

2. Please explain "challenging through party affiliation report".

How is that different from another challenge?

[Newsjock]

3. I read it as looking up a voter's party ID

and deciding to challenge at least in part based on that. This is different from challenging based on something like an alleged address discrepancy.

[damntexdem]

4. If you're a Dem, they challenge.

If GOP, they don't.

;-)

[RainDog]

5. beats me

sounds like they are looking at primary registration? for primaries you have to declare dem or rep.

if Indiana goes for McCain this year... bleeeeech.

I'm not from Indiana but Bloomington is my adopted home.

[happygoluckytoyou]

6. never heard of it??? Republicans never heard of EVOLUTION... tell them to drag their knuckles home!

[RainDog]

7. just saw a report on pbs

there were long, long lines in Bloomington today. people waiting hours to vote. We also have early voting (I voted before today) and when I was there (and on other days, from those who were there) there were lines then, too... 12 voting machines available with a line that took about 20-30 minutes.

Bloomington is known for its music scene - world music, Bernstein endowed the opera/school of music, at one point Billboard claimed it was "the new Seattle" - but still looking for Jimi.

anyway, musicians went to polling places and played while people waited in line.

I don't know if I would've liked that or not, even tho I love music. What if the bagpipes guy from the Farmer's Mkt showed up! I'd run away.