Republican challengers in Ohio - be not afraid

[eileen from OH]

I don't know that this is as scary as it sounds and perhaps I'm missing something. . .

The Republicans are going to be at the polling places with lists of supposedly suspicious new registrants that they will challenge. HOWEVER, on the registration form in Ohio there is no designation for party. The only way you would be able to tell whether a voter was a Republican or Democratic voter was to have previously cross-checked their names with the database from the Board of Elections regarding PAST voting. And new voters will, obviously, not be on it. So these guys will, in fact, be challenging "blind" and could just as easily catch one of the new 'publican registrants.

PLUS, in order to challenge they must state a REASON. There are only 4 valid reasons that a challenge is allowed to be issued:
- not 18 or older
- not a US citizen
- not an Ohio resident for past 30 days OR
- not a resident of county & precinct where you're trying to vote.

So they can't just pick on someone, hafta give a specific REASON.

Even then, the potential voter has the opportunity to answer questions, under oath, regarding the reason for the challenge. The poll worker makes the decision.

Again, am I missing something here? But I don't see that they can do that much damage, outside of slowing things up (that's bad enough, I know, but not as bad as it could be.)

eileen from OH

[calico1]

1. Thanks for the info. It seems to me that

what might be going on is what someone else described here--an effort on the part of the GOP operatives to slow things down and hopefully for them, discourage and frustrate people into just leaving and not voting. Its interesting that they are challenging the new voters when as you say they can't tell what Party they belong to. That tells me that they know, even if they deny it, that the overwhelming amount of new voters are Democrats, don't you think? Which is good news for us. Hopefully there will also be Democratic poll watchers who will encourage people not to leave if things start getting out of hand. These GOPers are really despicable!

[IowaGuy]

2. I don't believe the issue here is them catching a few...

voters that may or may not have crossed their T's or dotted their I's on a registration form, whats happening here is a concerted effort to slow down lines at polls and cause a situation that will increase frustration levels and cause people to give up and not vote - its just basic voter suppression, the fewer that vote, the greater their chances are.

[liberalnurse]

3. I do not take this threat lightly......

They have had this in the works for weeks! They will disrupt the voters....scare some away! The mission is intimidation! New voters will not even show up if their are inquiries.

[cthrumatrix]

4. why are "rethugs" afraid of DEMOCRACY...... assholes

[Jersey Devil]

5. You don't get it - they will challenge blacks and latinos

They don't need to see party registrations on the forms. They will challenge based on racial stereotypes and they will do it in minority areas.

[eileen from OH]

7. Wait a sec. . .I'm not diminishing the threat

. .. some people will be intimidated. And long lines can ensue by frivolous challenges.

But you missed my central point - according to OH law they CANNOT challenge anyone except on a very limited basis.

For example, if an African-American shows up at the polls, they can't just do a "I challenge this guy/gal." THEY HAVE TO HAVE REASONS FOR EVERY CHALLENGE AND HAVE TO BACK IT UP WITH ONE OF THE 4 REASONS. OR THERE IS NO CHALLENGE. VWB (Voting While Black) is NOT one of the legitimate reasons to challenge a vote.

eileen from OH

[seabeyond]

6. what if soemone has a speeding ticket that went into warrant

you know how many people who dont have a lot of money get a piddly ass ticket that goes into warrant. cop there, challenging people, challenging to go to records. and that is just off top of head. what if it is someone that has a right to vote, but isnt that good of a person. there are people that do wrong, but can still vote.

[eileen from OH]

8. According to Ohio law. . .

And I HAVE checked this out, there are only 4 reasons that a challenge can be levied, i.e., even CONSIDERED. And speeding tickets/warrants ain't one of them. AGAIN, there are 4 legitimate reasons that a voter may be challenged. If it ain't one of those, the poll worker is not allowed to even consider it.

And even then, a sworn statement, relating to the ommission/correction, overrrides it.

I am NOT saying that the Republicans won't TRY. Of course they bloody well will. And, yes, it is voter intimidation for them to even TRY.

What I AM saying is, that under Ohio law, they can't stop votes. Delay, intimidate, YES. Legally block -in the long run - NO.


eileeen from OH

[RevolutionStartsNow]

10. Thanks for checking this out, Eileen

I am going to be in OH, and I have no idea what to expect at the polls.

Maybe I can spend some time entertaining people who are standing in line, so they don't leave. :) Seriously, I know voter intimidation is not new, but this is incredibly messed up.

[eileen from OH]

12. Where ya gonna be?

I can come and be supportive (unless you're a mime, of course, in which case all bets are off - hahahahaha)

Really, thanks to all - fare and wide and from "safe" states who are coming and hlping us in OH.

Gawd knows, the pressure is getting to us.

eileen from OH

[RevolutionStartsNow]

15. Dayton (and Wilmington)

I'm staying in Wilmington but will be working for ACT in Dayton.

My brother and his wife are coming in from NYC too.

Where do you live?

[eileen from OH]

17. I'm waaaay far away

in the Northeast (not far from Cleveburg). Though I graduated from University of Dayton so I know the area. (Or at least I did - a bahgillion years ago.) Lots o nice people, and I don't think Dayton is as fundie as Cincinnati. Check out UD if it gets too nuts for ya. Catholic University, yeah, but it's a Marist operation which means it's a lot more lib than the area might indicate. The Marists ain't Jesuits (who are majorly lib and super-intellectual) but they ain't fundamentalists, that's fer sure.

eileem from OJH

[SilasSoule]

9. I'd really like to see some video of these goons in action

Videophones are the way the go. I've seem them - small and inconspicuous. I think they can take up to a minute of video and the video files should be easily transferred to PC and then posted on some blogs. Several one minute clips of this intimidation masked as "challenges" will expose these thugs for the threat to democracy that they are.

Anyone WIth videophones in these challenged precints in OH - make sure to try to capture some video of the action while waiting in line, go with a friend and them video you should you get challenged.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

11. Hmm, how about a video camera? Why be inconspicuous?

Kind of like the COPS shows where the cops behave because the cameras are on them.

[SilasSoule]

13. If thinking if these challengers know they're being videotaped

They'll tone it down, not make a scene and generally do nothing that will incriminate themselves. Stealth video capture will show their true brownshirt colors.

[Is It Fascism Yet]

14. They will prolly say videotaping is illegal

they just make it up as they go along

[Touchdown]

18. Then we get 3 BIG union guys to stand behind the videographer.

And another 3 big veterans to stand behind the Repug punks....all with arms crossed.

They want to intimidate us? This is OHIO for Christ's sake! They've heard stories about crossing picket lines, and will piss their pants if we show up. Repugs are all talk. Unions...we don't, we act. They'll be speeding down the street in 15 minutes.

Enough of this "but then they might..." shit. We know they're wrong, and we have the muscles on our side. Who are they gonna have? Some Preppy College Repuke draft dodgers?

It's simple. They try to take it...YOU TAKE IT BACK!

[Sugarbleus]

16. "Challenging" voters is legal in many states...BUT it's destructive

another Bush dirty tricks attempt. It can hold things up, frustrate people into not voting, disenfranchise low income/homeless folks from voting, piss off the elections officers in attendance. It's a dirty trick and Dems should be on guard with this...

Bring recording devices or cameras, take notes, call lawyers if anything gets too out of hand. Try to calm the people in line who are waiting to vote; let them know they SHOULD NOT BE INTIMIDATED...

One of the many things that really ticks me off is the "closing of polls" before everyone gets inside to vote. That is pure bullshit and shouldn't be allowed to happen...hence the problem with 'challengers' slowing down the process!!! :grr::grr::grr: