Judge Rebuffs GOP Effort in OHIO

[Carla in Ca]

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3731-2004Oct27.html>

More good news for Ohio!

A U.S. District Court judge yesterday effectively ended efforts by Republicans in Ohio to challenge the eligibility of tens of thousands of voters in one of the most closely contested states in this year's presidential race.

snip

It was the second time that the GOP has lost on the issue. In Nevada, another battleground, Clark County election officials rejected an attempt this month by the former executive director of that state's GOP to challenge 17,000 voters in the Las Vegas area.

more...

[meisje]

1. Voters will be challenged one by one on election day

[gmoney]

3. But, they have to find these voters one by one now

And they have to be able to make a case, instead of just getting them thrown out en masse.

I'm sure the poll judges won't put up with more than one or two unsubstantiated challenges, and will throw the bums out if they become a problem.

[liberal N proud]

5. On Election Day we will be there too, with Lawyers protecting

each voters right to vote.
I have training tomorrow about this.

[DemFromMem]

10. I went to training tonight!

Being a poll watcher is a really cool way to participate on election day! Unlike the Republicans, our goal is to make sure as many people get to exercise their rights as Americans to vote. The good news is the law is designed to make it as easy as possible for people to vote so as long as you know the rules and are willing to speak up, you'll be able to make a difference. Call the Kerry campaign in your community to get information on poll watching. You need to go through training and time is running short so get going!

[Rjnerd]

9. I assume

That once they make a challenge, the challenger the voter, and the head judge (who is the one that decides, true?) go off in the corner, while voting continues, uninterrupted for the line...

I bet they will try to stop the intake while challenging... I presume the legal guild has already prepared for this....

[LittleWoman]

19. Not quite

The challenger is not allowed to be closer than 10 feet when the election judge is speaking with the voter who is being challenged. This is to prevent any "in your face" exchanges between the voter and the challenger. I will be working at the polls as I have for the last 15 years and I really do not want to have to be a referee. My job is to facilitate voting not break up fights or keep lawful voters from voting.

[Bush was AWOL]

12. What gives them the right to challenge?

and how do they know who to challenge?

What if you are a college student and have an address different from where you are actually registered? Wouldn't you be able to vote where you are registered since your college address is not permanent?

[gmoney]

2. Good news...

JUST LET US FUCKING VOTE!!!

IF * IS AS GREAT AND POPULAR AS YOU SAY HE IS, HE'LL WIN, RIGHT?

LET'S LET THE VOTERS DECIDE THIS ONE FOR A CHANGE, OK?

[MockSwede]

16. Pollwatchers - Voter Protection Card

Check out:

http://cdn.moveonpac.org/content/pdfs/ep_card.pdf

Help numbers for BS at polling - spread the word please.

Pollwatching on nov2.

[Ksec]

4. Just in certain counties

From a report

Wednesday, U-S District Judge Susan Dlott ruled that six counties, Franklin, Lawrence,

Medina, Cuyahoga, Scioto and Trumbull, temporarily stop the hearings. Though, Jefferson County is not included in the ruling, Democratic officials say they hope Ohio Secretary of State, Kenneth Blackwell, apply the ruling to all Ohio counties.

[liberal N proud]

6. Cleveland News reported that the case for the other counties was stopped

as well.

[Ksec]

11. OK I hope thats right

Because one person can challenge thousands of voters. That aint right.

[Ksec]

14. I stand corrected.

[theHandpuppet]

13. Aha!

Boy, seeing which counties were targeted tells me A LOT. Franklin (Columbus) and Cuyahoga (Cleveland) were to be expected, but when I saw Lawrence and Scioto, I realized that the 'Pugs are scared witless. Lawrence and Scioto are the keys to winning SE Ohio, a long-neglected Applachian area of the state I have insisted could carry K/E to a win in the Buckeye State. When I last visited there I saw K/E signs all over the place.

[theHandpuppet]

7. Thank God!

I have to admit I really don't understand how these challenges could be legal. I realize there must be some process to verify registration information, but these kinds of purely partisan shenanigans could derail our entire election process!

[Philostopher]

8. This will just make Election Day a bigger clusterf*ck.

Sue Dlott, the District Court judge, was a Clinton appointee. I'm sure they'll mutter about that for time eternal, too. 'Damn Democrats.' Not that they don't already.

The thing that burns my ass about all this is, the Montgomery County (Dayton and burbs) GOP chief tried to discourage them from doing this in MontCo, because he said it wasn't an issue -- he didn't think there'd be enough errors in new registrations to make a difference. That means the only reason they chose to challenge in some districts was to scare new voters out of trying to vote. Period.

Turds.

[rullery]

15. To avoid being challenged, wear a Bush button on your lapel.

If these Bush thugs think you are going to vote with them, they sure won't challenge you! Some might wonder if Democrats might challenge them, but we are different. We really believe that every citizen has a right to vote.

[theHandpuppet]

17. Can't wear any political buttons, shirts, etc...

... within a certain distance of any polling place or you will be turned away! We don't want folks to get the wrong idea here, mate.

[DeepModem Mom]

18. kick