What to do if you are challenged at the polls?

[friesianrider]

I want to make a flyer to put up at my campus with stuff to be sure to have with you at the polls, some basic "voter rights", and also what to do if you are challenged at the polls.

I just got MoveOn's email so have lots of the "what to bring" stuff, but does anyone have anything to add for what to do if you're challenged?

The only way we can combat this is to be present at the polls ourselves, as well as educating people as to what their rights are as much as possible before Tuesday.

[NMDemDist2]

1. if challenged just sign the affidavit and vote (provisionally if necessary

[xultar]

5. Yeah so they don't have to count it later....n/t

[punpirate]

8. Actually, better to know...

... exactly what the grounds for challenge are by law.

For example, in some states, the only grounds for challenging a vote are if one suspects that the voter is: a) not of voting age, b) not a citizen, c) not a resident of the voting district in which the vote is being cast, d) not legally registered to vote.

In most cases, having a valid voter registration card is all that is necessary to refute a challenge. That puts the onus of verification on the both the election board and the challenger.

If challenged, remember, it's most important to remind a poll worker immediately that it is the legal obligation of the challenger to provide proof for the challenge. Challenges cannot be made indiscriminately nor can they be made without grounds. The act of challenge has to be followed by proof.

Cheers.

[Gato Moteado]

2. i pity the freeper that tries to challenge me at the polls.....

let them try it.

[onehandle]

3. Kick the shit out of them.

I'm not kidding. If some Freeper gets in my way, down he goes.

[Stew225]

11. I like your style, onehandle. eom

[traco]

25. Why does everything have to end in violence

I see so many posts here anymore that talks about beating someone, having already beat someone. I thought we were the civil side.

[donheld]

28. What do you suggest?

Violence is not be the answer. If we get into actual fight's we maybe arrested and denied a chance to vote. But in 2000 people just let it happen and look what we wound up with.

[RivetJoint]

33. Denied a chance to vote???

If one "kicks the shit" outta someone at the polling place, one would surrender one's right to vote as they haul one's ass off to jail.

[traco]

42. Ignore anybody trying to sway your vote

They are not allowed to campaign withing 100 (yards/feet? I don't remember which it is) of the polls. The volunteers are only suppose to take your ID, check for the voter registration, and hand you the ballot.

If you are hassled, report the incident to the appropriate division. Someone else has posted the contact information.

[lastliberalintexas]

48. I think you misunderstood

By "challengers", the OP is not referring to campaign workers trying to convince you to vote for their guy/gal. What s/he was referring to are the RNC paid operatives who will be at polling places to challenge certain people's very right to vote on various bases.

[traco]

50. That's where the reporting to the

incident to the appropriate division comes in. Nobody has the right to stop you from voting if you registered on time. What excuse could they use if you are a registered voter?

[fujiyama]

38. I don't blame you

After having to deal with the rape and plunder of the world for 4 years, this nation will at the minimum maintain some appearance of democracy!

Don't let those fascists give ya a hard time.

[ranosgol]

4. I wont be challenged.

I live in Indiana GOP Presidential Heavan.

NO need to worry here GUNS GOD AND GAYS! is everything

[xultar]

6. The Muther Fucker to get the fuck out of the way, that my parents

did not fight in the civil rights movement for me to have to fight it agin right now.

IF they wanna challenge, then they better let me vote first, then they can meet me @ my car afterwards and we can get it on.

If they don't like that then they can push the fuck on cuz this Sistah ain't playin that shit with them today.

[deadparrot]

7. Call 1-800-OUR-VOTE

to report any voter fraud and/or intimidation.

[lastliberalintexas]

49. And the ACLU and/or NAACP

Be sure that you have numbers to the local or regional offices for these organizations.

[wildflower]

9. Web-based election incident-reporting system...

http://www.verifiedvoting.org/

I found it on http://www.now.org , where it says:

The Election Incident Reporting System is a web-based program designed to help organizations identify and respond to situations preventing voters from voting or from having their votes recorded as intended. Visit www.verifiedvoting.org.

[Ducks In A Row]

10. I wonder how many reports of beaten up GOP assholes there will be tuesday?

because really, there are going to be hundreds of thousands of pissed off voters at the polls.

I think the GOP really needs to think about what they about to unleash.

[Nordic]

18. I'm with you. Any GOPer challenges me, they're in for some shit

I will not be fucked with.

I'm 6'4" 240 and I will be very very angry

[RivetJoint]

34. Don't resort to violence!

The WANT that. You can't vote from jail.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

43. Yeah...turn the other cheek, right?

[ProdigalJunkMail]

46. how is not resorting to violence a problem?

if someone challenges your right to vote and does you no bodily harm and you assault them I can just about guarantee that you will the one in jail. If someone assaults you, you have the right to defend yourself, of course, but to attack someone? I think that would be a tremendously BAD idea...

theProdigal

[porphyrian]

20. Probably very few.

Most of those assholes are just blowhard pussies that couldn't take a punch if their grandma threw it. They'll probably piss their pants if you look at them mean. Anyway, most of them will be so uncomfortable to see the number of minority voters present this time that they'll get in and out as fast as possible.

[Sara Beverley]

12. Carry a camera and take a picture of your challenger.

Ask for their ID so you can properly identify their photo.

[gemlake]

13. One piece of advice: document everything!

Get the name of the person challenging you and ask for the basis of the challenge. Write everything down.

[gator_in_Ontario]

14. I expected to have a problem

cause there have been incidents here already...to the point where they stationed a sheriff's deputy at the polling place. There was no one waving signs at anyone today. It might help I am from a Dem county, with a Dem sheriff....
but clearly posted are voter's rights and resonsibilities when voting. You do not have to take any shit or bow to their well-known intimidation tactics!

[mmonk]

15. I didn't get challenged

but wondered if my son would since it was his first time. It's good no brown shirt attempted such a thing. This patriot would have put that rightwing piece of garbage in his place. This is my country. The constitution is my constitution. The Bill of Rights is my Bill of Rights. Let one of them just try to keep me or any of my family members from voting. Let them even question my right to do so.

[Anakin Skywalker]

16. Challenge? What Type?

Physically challenged? As in a freeper bully who tries to bar my access as I go to check the Kerry box? Huh. Sorry rightwingnuts, contrary to your faith-based view that liberals are soft and physically weak, some of us happen to like going around in combat boots and a kick-ass attitude. We have had enough of the abuses committed by your annointed one, GW Bush, and we are going to sweep him and his minions out! There is nothing you can do to stop us. Have a good cry on Weds. morning, you greedy corporate bastards!

[TahitiNut]

17. There's a difference between a challenge and interference.

AFAIK, a challenge is legal only if posed through a poll worker (inspector). If someone comes up to me and attempts to interfere with my access to the polls, they'd better have medical insurance.

[Nordic]

19. I like this phrase "Don't mistake my kindness for weakness"

in fact I'd like to get a bumper sticker made up that says that.

I'm a really nice guy, but if you fuck with me, you're gonna be sorry. I do not shy away from confrontation.

[vinnievin777]

21. Believe me

No one is gonna challenge me --this is the constitution state.
And I know nobody will play games here. However-- Ohio please take care of each other. Don't be intimidated and go to the polls with friends. And if you got one of the 35,000 letters from the retardicans because you are a new voter please know the judge said those letters are illegal.

Vinnie Vin
http://www.vinnievin.com

[Ms. Toad]

39. Challengers without personal knowledge may be committing a crime

Good news from Ohio this morning:

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/10042113.htm?1c

975 voter challenges tossed out in Summit County yesterday - and the challengers may be in deep doo-doo.

<<The challengers, all older longtime Republicans -- Barbara Miller, Howard Calhoun, Madge Doerler and Louis Wray -- were subpoenaed by the elections board and were present at the hearings. Akron attorney Jack Morrison, a Republican, volunteered to represent the four.

Democratic board member Russ Pry suggested that the four could be subject to criminal prosecution for essentially making false claims on the challenge forms. The form states that making a false claim is subject to prosecution as a fifth-degree felony.

On Morrison's advice, Miller then refused to take part in any hearings after Herold's, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.>>

I haven't checked the statute yet, but I suspect the same may be true for challenges at the polls (and these 976 are safe at the polls - each is being given a letter entitling them to vote without challenge).

[proud patriot]

22. Got this response from another DUer

Yell "No I will not go have sex with you
Get lost you pervert" :evilgrin:

[LiberalFighter]

23. Especially if both are men... that should fluster any repug

[Brewman_Jax]

24. I'll borrow a line from Mr. T...

I pity the fool who comes up to me without a valid badge--I pity 'im!

:grr:

'Tho, I love Proud Patriot's (#22) answer, I don't think I'll ger the opportunity. Since I'm a non-WASP, they're waiting for me. :thumbsup:

[pauliedangerously]

26. I'm wearing steel toed boots to the polls

Anyone who wants their gonads up near their thorax....

[Wapsie B]

27. A tire-iron upside the head

might get their attention. Seriously, anyone trying to do this at my polling place will get a serious can of WhoopAss opened upon them.

[Skittles]

29. I would KICK THEIR F***ING ASS

I'm serious - I'd give one order to get the f*** away from me, then I would go to town.

[Puglover]

35. I agree Skittles..

any Freeper that challenges me is going to be wearing his balls behind his ears. If the Freep is a female, I still need to formulate a plan.
:)

[RivetJoint]

36. Have fun trying to vote from jail

Committing battery is NOT the answer! Get the poper authorities to remove any disruptive persons...don't end up in jail and forefit your right to vote, please.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

45. Are you still going to be posting on DU after Kerry wins?....

Just curious.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

47. do you have some sort of history with this poster?

why would you ask that question? What are you trying to imply? If someone assaults a person...jail is probably where they would end up...

theProdigal

[ProdigalJunkMail]

30. the suggestions of violence in this thread are very scary

I don't care how pissed you are...attacking someone at the polls is not the way to handle ANY confrontation. If someone challenges you illegally, have them dealt with by the authorities. Know your rights and they can't do a damn thing to you. But if you assault someone, you can be damn sure that you spend at least a few hours in jail and depending on where you are and what actually transpires you could be looking at felony charges and, in many cases, that could cause you to legitimately miss the opportunity to vote in the next election...

theProdigal

[billyskank]

31. Just tell them you want to go in and vote for Bush

Don't laugh or grimace when you say it. Tell them how glad you are that Bush is bringing freedom to the Iraqi people and how his tax cuts are jump-starting the economy, and that he needs four more years to put the country permanently back on course. Then go in and vote for Kerry.

[billyskank]

32. Oh, I forgot

and don't wear anything that says "Kerry for president!"

[WoodrowFan]

37. check with your State Election Board

I just took my Chief Election Officer refresher course (in Virginia) yesterday and the question was asked, "what if someone challenges a voter?" If the voter has the proper ID, they vote, period. No "provision ballot", the normal one. A proper ID is a driver's license or a voter registration card (there are others as well). Only 1 ID is necessary, none of this "multiple" shit.

If I see anybody harassing voters at MY precienct I WILL call the cops. The county police have been told to give priority to calls from Polling Stations (other than life and eath calls) so we can call 911.


friesianrider, PLEASE add this to your flier:

IF you are challenged OUTSIDE of the polling place PLEASE tell the election officials INSIDE that you are being harassed. It's THEIR job to determine if you can vote, not the party representatives outside.

[Justice]

40. Find the Lawyer at your polls for the Democrats

There will be a lawyer at the polls in every swing state. Find that person, ask them for assistance.

[ProfessorGAC]

41. I Won't Be

There is nothing that can happen in my little town that would stop me from voting. One of the election judges is my neighbor. Another is a good friend of a good friend. I have no worries.
The Professor

[ThoughtCriminal]

44. Avoid tying up the line if possible

That's their real goal. Slow things down, create long lines. So try to take up the challenger's time, not the people behind you. But absolutely make sure your vote is cast.

[Hello_Kitty]

51. We're giving out a voter right's pamphlet while canvassing tomorrow. n/t