Gov. Jeb Bush: Poll Watchers Can, Should Challenge Voters

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.stpetetimes.com/2004/10/28/news_pf/Decision2004/Gov_Bush__Poll_watche.shtml

Gov. Bush: Poll watchers can, should challenge voters

His remarks come amid concerns that excessive scrutiny may put a damper on the election.

JONI JAMES and TAMARA LUSH
Published October 28, 2004

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Jeb Bush said Wednesday he would have no problem if Republican poll watchers challenge the eligibility of voters before they cast ballots on Election Day, despite growing concern that it could create gridlock and scare away qualified voters.

"I don't think it will cause problems," Bush said. "I do think that people who are not eligible to vote shouldn't and the people who are should."

The Florida Republican Party has not decided whether to instruct poll watchers to challenge voters Tuesday, spokeswoman Mindy Fletcher said.

But Democrats say a GOP list of 2,663 newly registered voters in Duval County who appear to have incorrect addresses indicates Republicans are planning such a strategy.

"It's despicable," Florida Democratic Party chairman Scott Maddox said. "Their goal is to harass people enough that they'll give up their right to vote or not go to the polls."

more...

[liberal N proud]

1. Is that proof enough that they are going to make it ugly on

Election Day?
Damn, the govorner of a state should not support such actions.
Next he will call out the National Guard to shoot anyone who protects the voter.

[ClintonTyree]

6. He has already stated................

that he may use the National Guard at polling places to "keep order". We officially live in a police state now.

[sunnybrook]

16. are you serious? The Natl. Guard?

[liberal N proud]

18. So my ears were not decieving me yesterday

I did hear that he called on the NG to guard polls.
Shit I can see the violence now!

[michigandem2]

2. that is why we will have provisional ballots...so we can work

it out after the fact but if they wait in line LET THEM FUCKING VOTE!~

and this is likely only going to happen in heavily african american or latino polling places...so its not a fair system..if anyone gets challenged it will create chaos because i believe if people think they are being disenfranchised..they are going to go OFF on someone...bottom line he is a theif...just like his brother

[xultar]

3. Jeb-Crow is in effect! Watch out Bruvas and Sistahs! n/t

[July]

5. JEB CROW! xultar, that is excellent!

I hope this term is spread far and wide. And I'll remember that it came from you!

[bluestateguy]

4. Imagine

Imagine if the Democrats hired poll watchers to monitor heavily Republican, overwhelmingly white precincts in the Jacksonville suburbs of Duval County. To make it even more dramatic lets just say the poll watchers were all black people. On election day, they challenged well to do looking, middle aged white voters. They harassed them, badgered them for identification, asked them patronizing questions and clogged up the lines to make voting as inconvenient as possible in those precincts.

How would Jeb Bush, Glenda Hood and the Florida Republican Party react?

[mooky]

14. That actually happened

In Forsyth County, GA in 2000. But it was AFL-CIO pollwatchers calling people with Saxby buttons "unpatriotic." Representative Cynthia McKinney's father was yelling "go home JEWS! You've done enough damage" near downtown Atlanta.

This stuff happens on both sides.

Also, I voted in Downtown Jacksonville. There was no intimidation at all, and I was one of the only white people waiting in line. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen at all, but it wasn't happening around lunchtime on Monday.

[Bonhomme Richard]

7. A question. How do they know whether or not the voter is...........

going for Kerry or shrub? Are they going to grab people at random or do they have a list of Democratic voters and when that person shows up they go after them? Are they only targeting Democratic precincts?
I guess the only way they could do it is grab people at random and if the person is registered repug then let them go and only hassle those registered Democratic.

[flpoljunkie]

9. How? The Rethugs will only be at black precincts, that's how!

And we all know that blacks voted overwhelmingly for Gore--or at least tried to--and will vote overwhelmingly for Kerry in 2004!

Jacksonville threw out over 27,000 ballots in 2000-the vast majority coming from black precincts.

[mom cat]

8. Get everv single challenge on tape!

[floridaguy]

10. Don't forget Jeb Bush is a PNAC founder

and world domination is his goal, so a couple thousand civil rights violations are nothing. I said a long time ago that when the Repugnants saw they were losing power, it would get ugly. This is only the beginning, and I expect it to get worse.

However, I have been "on the ground" in the Southwest part of this battleground state, and I would bet on us winning Florida, even though I'm not a betting man.

Everything I see daily tells me that *'s support is nowhere near as strong as it was in 2000, and Kerry-Edwards support is definitely stronger than it has ever been in Southwest Florida. I live in the heart of a Repugnant dominated city, and on my street there are
5 Kerry-Edwards signs and no * signs.

Keep the faith folks. We're gonna win this thing.

[jerryster]

19. But there's always Glenda Hood

I'm wondering: If Kerry wins FL by a few thousand votes will she simply announce that she is discarding enough votes to change the outcome and throw the election? And if she does, will there be violence in the streets?

[theHandpuppet]

11. What are the voters' rights?

I've already voted (early voting here in WV), but a question for those who may be confronted by the righteous armies of neoNazi Repuke pollwatchers on Tuesday -- if one of them stops a potential voter and demands identification, can the voter refuse?

[ezekiel333]

15. Voters Rights

From the St. Petersburg Times:

"A rarely used provision of state law allows poll watchers to challenge an individual's qualifications to vote by writing a sworn affidavit. The challenge is resolved on the spot by election workers, or by having the voter cast a provisional ballot."

<http://www.sptimes.com/2004/10/28/Decision2004/Gov_Bush__Poll_watche.shtml>

So the answer is we must provide them ID in order to vote or cast a "provisional" ballot.

However, a Florida voter does have the right to see the identification of the challenger and to file a counter complaint. If anyone is challenged, or sees anything suspicious, during the voting process in Florida they need to call 1-800-WIN-FL04 (1-800-946-3504) and report it IMMEDIATELY!

If a challenger becomes hostile or refuses to provide you with identification you need to report them to the election official in charge at the polling place. Request they be removed for cause. If they are not removed contact the local police department and file a civil complaint. If you are uneasy in doing this call the number above and assistance will be provided.

We also suggest that you print out these voter rights cards <http://cdn.moveonpac.org/content/pdfs/ep_card.pdf> and be sure to carry extras to the polling place with you. If you have already voted there are numerous places to volunteer to help prevent voter fraud and intimidation. Visit <https://epc.voteprotect.org/> for more information.

[SangamonTaylor]

12. I have a Republican friend -- went from Texas to be a "poll watcher" in FL

Old college roommate of mine from a few years ago.

He worked on the Michael McCaul campaign this past spring (the one created from redistricting that runs from Austin to Katy, just west of Houston).

He said that he's working in a predominantly black area, that there is huge turnout, and that there's really not much that he feels he can do (he's too scare of black people :) j/k).

Anyhow, if I get any inside news from the other side (the dirty kind) I'll be sure to pass it right along.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. 'I don't think it will cause problems'

. . . and Saddam's weapons of mass destruction are right under the Fountain of Youth.

Problems are what Jeb wants. He belongs in the slammer.

[tomfodw]

17. I thought it was illegal for poll watchers to challenge voters

Read that somewhere. Maybe it's only illegal in certain states?

Anyone know?