Democrats Plan Extensive Voter Monitoring

Yahoo.com (Reuters) ^ | Oct. 8, 2002

[Alissa]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Party leaders said Tuesday they will launch an extensive effort to promote and monitor voters' rights on Election Day and will put "thousands" of lawyers in place to respond to voters' complaints.

After the difficulties in Florida in the 2000 election and during the Sept. 10 primary, Democrats said they will pay special attention to the Sunshine State.

"We are not going to stand on the sidelines while a third Florida election is bungled," said Democratic Party Chairman Terry McAuliffe, who exhibited a new toll-free call line that will allow voters to register problems and have their calls logged with local election officials and party workers.

After the bitter Florida recount battle in the 2000 presidential election, the state spent more than $30 million installing electronic voting and replacing punch-card systems.

But it still experienced widespread problems in September with new voting machines and voters who were turned away from late opening or early closing polling stations.

McAuliffe said the party will have monitors at problem polling sites. He said "thousands" of lawyers would be on notice to respond to complaints so "no one is intimidated into foregoing their rights."

[tomkat]

Write a letter, at the last minute, to one of the biggest newspapers in the area and ask "if this is true?"
Just a rumor could scare the dickens out of most Democrat voters. LOL

this would be an excellent suggestion,
but it assumes literacy among the target audience ...

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL! You're bad!

[aruanan]

Democrats Plan Extensive Voter Monitoring

What, to make sure they vote they way they were paid to vote?

[Alberta's Child]

I know. LOL!

[sweetliberty]

"1-800-2DUM-2VOT"

ROTFL!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Travis, what will they say when they find out about the touch screen voting machines capturing fingerprints and comparing them to voter rolls, outstanding warrants lists, felon lists, and child support deadbeats?

[Txslady]

"Attorney General John Ashcroft is beginning a pre-election effort directing federal prosecutors across the country to coordinate with state officials to prevent election fraud and voting rights violations. "

I read this in the Wall Street Journal today. I couldn't link it because I don't have an On-Line Subscribtion.. here is a link however...

Read the 8th Paragraph. I didn't say anything about the Dems requesting anything. :o)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-2074161,00.html

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Have you seen this yet Jeff?

Dog Gone, maybe you should ask Jeff about some of the really cool database technology that will be used in conjunction with touch screen voting machines?

[sweetliberty]

"Won't they be shocked when they are arrested the next week on outstanding warrants, back taxes and child support!"

The thought of it makes me all warm and fuzzy, but what makes me smile even more is the thought of the computers turning them down when they try to vote again, even as a dead person. A great added bonus would be for the computer to delete the original votes of anyone caught cheating!

[Pining_4_TX]

He said "thousands" of lawyers would be on notice to respond to complaints so "no one is intimidated into foregoing their rights."

...especially morons and the dead.

[Txslady]

LOL

[Howlin]

and will put "thousands" of lawyers in place to respond to voters' complaints.

I think we should ALL **LOOK** for the ones at OUR polling places, and then go up and read them a riot act!

I think this may infringe on my rights. I feel intimidated already (don't ANY of you laugh at that...I can, too, be intimidated! :-)

Wphile, do you think we will actually LIVE to get to cast our vote? :-)

[sweetliberty]

You can count on questionable stuff in Arkansas as well. The Rats here "accidentally" screen out Republican poll watchers then they just claim that no Republicans showed up to vote in several precincts.

[Howlin]

LOL!

I'm serious. This might be against the law!

[harpo11]

I'm sure these democrat party hack lawyers are doing this all for free.

I'm just hoping that the GOP will put as many lawyers on the job to insure that democrats don't intimidate non-democrat voters since the party is doing all it can possibly do to eliminate military votes.

Remember there is nothing democratic about the democrat party leadership.

[windchime]

Florida:
Poll Watchers-

Before and after the polls are open, anyone must be admitted into the polling room to observe. This includes candidates, political and government officials, and representatives of the media. They are not to be present in the polling room during voting hours unless they are there for the purpose of voting. (Voting hours begin at 7am and continue until the last voter present at 7pm finishes voting and leaves the polling room.)

1. Each candidate and political party is permitted to have ONE watcher (at a time) in each precinct on Election Day to watch and observe the conduct of voters and officials. The watchers may be present during the opening and closing activities as well as during the hours while the polls are open.

2. No person shall be permitted to act as a poll watcher unless his/her name is submitted 14 days prior to the election so it can appear on the poll watcher list approved by the Supervisor of Elections Office. Poll watchers should wear the badges issued to them by the SOE Office. However, any person, whether registered as a watcher or not, may observe during the opening of the polls (between 6am and 7am) or during the closing of the polls (after the polls close at 7pm or as the last voter leaves).

3. Poll watchers shall not be permitted to come closer to the officials' tables or the Touch Screen Voting Machine than is necessary to properly perform their functions.

4. Poll watchers are required to furnish their own supplies and shall not obstruct the orderly conducting of the election.

5. The poll watchers are to be permitted to examine the Precinct Register. Please cooperate in allowing them access to the lists.

6. Qualified Poll watchers may initiate a challenge of a voter's right to vote. (refers to challenge procedures)

Please be certain that no voter feels that he/she is being watched as he/she votes because the secrecy of the ballot is of the utmost importance. Do not allow the voters to be delayed by the poll watcher.

Repeat...this is for the STATE OF FLORIDA. FReepers in other states should verify with their Supervisor of Elections Office what their rules are.
____________________________
"I suggest we ALL put our money where our mouths are."
Good idea, Hildy.

[Goldwater Girl]

It sounds suspiciously like a solicitation to commit voter fraud. Voters who do not report problems while still in the polls cannot later call a DNC lawyer and claim the problem d' jour: butterfly ballot, vote didn't register, smudged screen, picked wrong name, etc.
SPOILED BALLOTS DON'T COUNT-- EVER.
This seems like a setup for another legal circus- like in 2000- and the botched primary was just a test to probe the weaknesses of the system, so they can prepare for the coming battle.

[Mo1]

Maybe both sides will be showing up?? ..

Which helps make it a little better then just Rat Lawyers at the polls

BTW .. thanks for the link

[Txslady]

My pleasure! :o) Wish I had the one from The Wallstreet Journal though.

[YaYa123]

Yes, I believe Governor Bush asked for federal inspectors right after the primary. I'll see if I can find where I saw that.

Federal Inspectors were on hand for the McKinney primary this year...they should have been in Florida too.