Fed Court Clears Ohio GOP Reps to Challenge Voters' Eligibility

[RebelYell]

Federal court clears Ohio GOP representatives to challenge voters’ eligibility

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CINCINNATI — A federal appeals court has cleared the way for political parties to challenge voters’ eligibility at polling places throughout Ohio, ruling early today that their presence on Election Day was allowed under state law.

Overturning the orders of two federal judges from the day before, a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 early today to grant emergency stays that will allow Republicans and Democrats one challenger per precinct each. The judges also consolidated the two appeals, which stemmed from separate lawsuits in Cincinnati and Akron.

Plaintiffs’ appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court were unsuccessful. Early Tuesday, Justice John Paul Stevens, who handles appeals from Ohio, refused a request to stay the 6th Circuit decision.

Republicans say they wanted challengers in many polling places because of concerns about fraud. Democrats have accused the GOP of trying to suppress Democratic turnout. Hundreds of thousands of voters have been newly registered in a state President Bush and Sen. John Kerry both say they need to win.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041102/BREAKINGNEWS/41102005

[sendero]

1. That's fine..

... but if a challenger files a false affidavit claiming personal knowledge s/he doesn't have, I want to see them in jail.

Sounds fair enough.

[Moderator]

2. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=951991