Judge bars challengers from Ohio polling places

[Jersey Devil]

11/1/2004, 5:02 a.m. ET
The Associated Press

CINCINNATI (AP) — A federal judge issued an order early Monday barring political party challengers from polling places throughout Ohio during Tuesday's election.


U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott found that the application of Ohio's statute allowing challengers at polling places is unconstitutional.

She said the presence of challengers inexperienced in the electoral process questioning voters about their eligibility would impede voting.

Dlott ruled on a lawsuit by a black Cincinnati couple who said Republican plans to deploy challengers to largely black precincts in Hamilton County was meant to intimidate and block black voters.

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/politics/index.ssf?/base/politics-0/1099303751272310.xml&storylist=politics

[sisenor]

1. Thank God

Cause that was going to lead to serious fights and the Bush thugs would have gotten hurt.

[sisenor]

2. Thank God

Cause that was going to lead to serious fights and the Bush thugs would have gotten hurt.

[Clintmax]

3. Good for you, Judge Dlott!

[TexasSissy]

4. Yaaay! It will be appealed, of course, by the GOP. But thank

goodness this unethical behavior will not be allowed.

The challenges COULD and SHOULD occur BEFORE election day. Otherwise, the mere act of multiple challenges on what will be a large turnout would gum up the works, slow things up, and interfere with EVERYONE'S right to vote at that polling place. Yaaaay!

[Silverhair]

5. Interesting, but don't celebrate yet. It WILL be appealed B4 noon.

The Reps probably already had their appallate briefings prepared before the judge gave the ruling.

[izzie]

6. I recall them standing out side in NH and Me. but not inside

I read the other day they could come right inside where you voted and I did think that a little odd. Once they made the vote hidden I thought that all went away. You used to have to wait a long time in Portsmouth NH where I used to vote but they also had those awful lever things and I think that is all gone. I have voted in Maine, NH and Alaska. Alaska was very up to date and Maine is more counting paper votes but then I have usually lived in small towns. This little town you vote on paper and a machine counts it. But never have I seen a party person in a voting place and my first vote was for Ike.

[jimshoes]

7. Thank You Judge

I hope this is the final word on this.

[jeanmarc]

8. Nice spelling on the article's headline

Not the DU article, the nj.com article. This is great news! To have a bunch of buttinskys at the polls would probably result in fist fights where the buttinskys would receive the bloody nose.

[DemocracyInaction]

9. CNN said that this will be challenged today all day long and

there probably will be more decisions coming.....they never give up and they love lawyers when it suits them!

[Quadrajet]

10. Hahah, the freepers are all in a tizzy over this one. (link)

"This ruling covers the entire state. It may well cost us Ohio if allowed to stand."

Plan on cheating much?

[rndmprsn]

11. thank you

[lizzieforkerry]

12. I'm an Ohio Challenger

They certainly haven't told us to stay home tomorrow...yet! I'll let you know if they do! Truthfully though I was kind of looking forward to doing it, arguing with the repukes! But I realize it is for the better if we are not there at all.