Citizen Poll Watcher Activism -FL and perhaps other states

10/24/12 | vanity

[lovesdogs]

The Romney campaign decided that during the early voting period only lawyers would be used as poll watchers with few exceptions. I do not agree with the logic behind the decision. But the disagreement path is not a useful one so I came up with a different plan. Here in FL any registered voter is a poll watcher for whatever time they are in the polling place legitimately casting a ballot or lawfully assisting someone else casting a ballot. Not too many people know that and I would hazard a guess that some paid election workers might not be aware of it either.

So amid all of the candidate signs and sign waivers, I am going to set up a little station with handouts (see below) and information for the Broward Co early voting site that is most openly in loooove with obama. Too be honest, I don't expect my efforts to net any challenged votes. What I do expect is that a few of the flyers catch the eye of SOE employees who will know that every voter walking in the door may be watching them. It is easy for the poll clerk to stick the Republican poll watcher in the corner and tell them to suck on rocks. But voters cannot be treated that way even if they are casting watchful eyes in election worker's direction.

If your state allows voter challenges to voters for cause, this might work for you too. Just be sure to stay behind the boundary lines for electioneering.

[lovesdogs]

(Sample handout)

All Registered Voters are Poll Watchers

FL Statute 101.111  Voter challenges.— (1)(a) Any registered elector or poll watcher of a county may challenge the right of a person to vote in that county. The challenge must be in writing and contain the following oath, which shall be delivered to the clerk or inspector: OATH OF PERSON ENTERING CHALLENGE State of Florida County of I do solemnly swear or affirm that my name is ; that I am a member of the Party; that I am a registered voter or pollwatcher; that my residence address is , in the municipality of ; and that I have reason to believe that is attempting to vote illegally and the reasons for my belief are set forth herein to wit: (Signature of person challenging voter) Sworn and subscribed to before me this day of , (year) . (Clerk of election)

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR: Voters who do not show a photo ID at check in and for people in the polling place who assist more than one other voter with a ballot. Please bring this information to the attention of the Poll Clerk. You are also encouraged to stop back here and let the volunteers know what you saw so that it will be included in the election record.

[livius]

I’m going to be a poll watcher in Florida, and I’m not an attorney. The Dems usually do have attorneys - who attempt to intimidate everybody, voter or worker, in the place.

I’m in St Johns County (the place that got those bizarre fraudulent letters telling GOP voters that they weren’t registered or weren’t citizens) and most of my fellow poll watchers aren’t attorneys either. However, it’s possible that your county may be more contested. St Johns is pretty reliably GOP, except for St Augustine, where I live, unfortunately. But they might have wanted attorneys at the ready in a more contested county.

[lovesdogs]

Are they using non attorneys for early voting up there too? I am poll watching 11/6 but here in heavy blue Broward, they are only using attorneys for the early vote.

[Bryanw92]

I’m in Clay county and in 2004, the Democrat poll watcher rolled up, got 4 Kerry signs out her trunk and stuck them in the ground 4 feet from the doors to the polling place. She wore a Kerry button on her jacket and wore a Kerry hat.

I complained to the cop at the door and he said that they were told to not do anything if the Democrat poll watcher did this. I called the Supervisor of Elections and they just said that they were “busy today, but would look into it next week.”

I hope she shows up with her signs this year!

[Fester Chugabrew]

It is easy for the poll clerk to stick the Republican poll watcher in the corner and tell them to suck on rocks.

So, we need Republican poll watchers to with b*lls, too? Good for you, being present to announce careful scrutiny. I would like to see the following information disseminated widely everywhere:

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NOTICE: An organization of concerned citizens has arranged for observers at select polling places throughout the United States to record and document voting procedures and evaluate the same in terms of integrity. Equipped with both audio and visual recording devices not visible without close scrutiny, they will quietly monitor events with the aim of reporting irregularities both immediately and subsequent to the process. These observers will work in short shifts throughout the day, often times appearing as normal citizens present to cast their vote. Their efforts will extend predominantly into areas where abnormalities in the voting process are most commonly found. Those contemplating procedures that violate voting laws should be aware that their behavior will be monitored, and they will be subject to prosecution on the basis of solid evidence.
-------

The only problem is, most voters can't read a ballot, let alone this notice.

[livius]

Yes, it’s non-attorneys for everything in St John’s County. I think maybe your county is a little more conflictive. We have a great Supervisor of Elections here, also, which always makes things better.

[lovesdogs]

I think maybe your county is a little more conflictive

Politically speaking, that is probably the best word ever used to describe Broward.

[livius]

I used to live in Gainesville, a leftist stronghold, and that happened in both Bush elections. The Dems were campaigning literally two feet from the door, and nobody stopped them. The police were out there, but they went off to direct traffic so that they wouldn’t have to get involved, and there was no way of stopping this.

Nor of stopping busses of mentally handicapped people who were brought in by union workers from the local state facility for the developmentally disabled and “voted” in batches by them. This year, Florida has a new law that prohibits people from “assisting” more than one person in voting, which is great (and is something I will be watching for at the polls).

On another note, I live in St Augustine, a liberal bastion in conservative St Johns County, and last night all the Romney signs were stolen from my street (my immediate neighborhood is an old neighborhood and pretty conservative). The one Obama sign is still there, of course.

[Bryanw92]

I grew up in Gainesville and my parents still live there. I know what a leftist stronghold it is! Imagine how it was for an 18 year old kid to vote for Reagan in that place?