South Carolina GOP wants Cops at the Polls

[wyethwire]

http://www.scdp.org/blog.php?blog_id=69

Charleston County elections director Jill Miller - a GOP appointee - has written to local police departments alerting them to the location of polling places in their jurisdictions and asking that officers patrol them on election day to look for any security problems.

http://www.scdp.org/blog.php?blog_id=69

[Sydnie]

1. We have a police person stationed at each poll already

We have had a police person standing next to the ballot box for the last 20 years (probably before that but I have only lived here 20 years) and they oversee the box from beginning to end. If you have a decent police force it is no problem.

Of course, the disclaimer is -- I live in a small town/rural area, so we all know each other on sight anyway.

[HootieMcBoob]

4. We have police at our polls in NYC too

They don't do anything though, just kinda hang out and drink coffee and eat doughnuts. It's not a big deal here but you never know in some of those places, escpecially if it's the GOP who's putting them there.

[wyethwire]

5. It's illegal in South Carolina

It might be different in your state, but cops at the polls is a classic intimidation tactic in South Carolina, and the practice has been made illegal:

"Unless called within the polls by a majority of managers for assistance, no sheriff, deputy, policeman or other officer is allowed to come within the polling place. See SC Code of Laws 7-13-160."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Beware, this could be a suppress the vote action. (nt)

[wyethwire]

3. Our thoughts exactly

The SC Democratic Party plans to fight this thing

[wyethwire]

6. Plan for cops rejected by Election Commissions

Win one for voting rights everywhere

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/9979703.htm