Please, quit hyperventilating about challenges

[Cuban_Liberal]

I am a pollwatcher for my AFSCME local, and pollwatchers/challengers are not 10 feet-tall and titanium clad! ALL we can do is challenge the person's right to vote in our precinct; the final decision about eligibility resides with the judges of the election, unless a prior determination has been made by the County Clerk, which is the case 99% of the time. By state law, we are FORBIDDEN to be 'loud, abusive or threatening' toward either the voter or the election judges. Furthermore, the legal presumption resides with the voter, i.e., that he/she is entitled to cast a vote.

I know state laws vary slightly, but in general, this will be the scenario nationwwide.

CHILL, Y'ALL!

Keep the faith--- our day is at hand!

:thumbsup::dem:

[Cuban_Liberal]

1. Kick, calling for calm!

:hi:

[PretzelWarrior]

2. Ohio is a special situation. GOP PLANNING trouble.

GOP let loose with their specific voter suppression strategy by registering a bunch of their folks as people eligible to challenge voters. They aren't doing it to detect voter fraud. THey are doing it to create voter fraud by suppressing votes.

[Cuban_Liberal]

9. Um, excuse me...

I stated clearly that I am working for AFSCME, so doesn't it logically follow that OUR PARTY has recruited and organized poll watchers for the exact same reason, AND to prevent such 'bully boy' tactics?

:wtf:

[Confident]

3. EVERYBODY

chill out - assume you are going to get challenged - SO WHAT - bring your drivers license (WHICH YOU CARRY WITH YOU EVERYDAY ANYWAY) and bring the phone/electric bill

This hysteria is patronising - Dem voters are not stupid children who can't stand up for themselves

[PretzelWarrior]

4. wow. you really underestimate your enemy.

of course...not enemy in the sense of al queda...but opponent. The GOP professionals--not the rank and file Republican guy/gal--are ruthless and will try anything.

It is worth it to them to bet busted down a little at polling places if they can unnerve a few people into filing provisional ballots that may or may not ever get counted. Some people may hear bad experience from friend/relative and decide not to go to poll.

and guess what? Dems are in position on relying a bit on unreliable groups to push them over the top--first time voters, young voters, easily intimidated ones like first time african american voters, etc.

I agree....90% of the people going to polls would never even have a problem rebuffing a challenge by someone. It's the 10% who wouldn't know what to do that I'm worried about. Hey, as long as someone else in the know can help them speak up and execute their privilege of voting despite pressure from monitors...it's all good.

[Confident]

5. OK - then experienced Dems who have voted in OH

should stick around and shadow the challengers and help first time/easily intimidated voters exercise their rights

[PretzelWarrior]

6. that I agree with. kudos to US. we will save the day. LOL.

nobody freaking out. as a monolithic, uniform army we move forward. with discipline and as one we take steps and will do it.

[Cuban_Liberal]

28. LOL!

'Monolithic' is one word I would never apply to Democrats. God bless us one and all, but at times, getting us all to 'march in lockstep' reminds me of trying to herd cats.

:P

[henslee]

29. 100% AGREE. Some folks are just not built for confrontation. They crumble.

[Cuban_Liberal]

30. That's another reason why we're there.

We've been instructed in how to approach the person, reassure them that they ARE entitled to vote, direct them to the proper precinct, offer them a ride, etc.--- whatever it takes. This has been WELL thought-out LONG before today.

:)

[Q]

7. It's impolite to tell people to 'chill out' or to...

...quit this or that. The implication is that they have nothing to worry about or that they're just being paranoid. The problem is that YOU don't know what's going to happen today any more than anyone else. Allow people to express their concerns without your preemptive strikes against them.

- No one is suggesting that challengers are 'titanium clad' and that has never been the issue. The point is that they're able to SLOW DOWN the process enough to keep people from voting or otherwise intimidate voters. You're naive if you think Bush* operatives or GOP clerks and judges care about state laws. Scores of laws were circumvented or outright broken in 2000 and the offenders never suffered any consequences.

[Cuban_Liberal]

8. Have YOU ever been a pollwatcher, or seen how it works?

Based upon your statement, I am willing to bet you have not. Well, I have been, so there is nothing 'impolite' about suggesting that people chill out. Pray tell, what benefits do fear or paranoia bring to the table? OUR ground operation is at LEAST as sophisticated as the Republican party's is, and I find it insulting as hell for people to assume that we will not do everything possible to protect the right of people to vote!

:eyes:

[Weembo]

11. Good message

You are a professional. Thank you for doing your job and doing it so well. Go Johnny!

[Cuban_Liberal]

12. Thank you!

My union brothers and sisters WILL SEE that every vote counts in Illinois! Solidarity forever!

:thumbsup:

[ExclamationPoint]

18. Don't fight

We really shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves that only makes the republicans stronger. Everyone should try to be as calm as possible.

[Q]

19. My point is that you're being condescending...

...and that's unnecessary.

- Go to the 'Report problems' section of DU and see that many are experiencing problems with challengers in different parts of the country.

- Telling people not to worry doesn't prepare them for the reality on the ground. The RWingers are out in force and they don't play by the rules.

- This is not to say that I don't appreciate your work.

[Cuban_Liberal]

22. I'm not being condescending--- not at all.

I'm urging people to remain calm and cast their vote
because, like blackmail, intimidation only works if you cooperate.


Thank you for your other kind words.

:hi:

[Cuban_Liberal]

10. Kick

:dem:

[meganmonkey]

13. How can you tell if someone's hyperventilating thru the computer screen?

You must have a great monitor.

:silly:

kick for faith!

[Cuban_Liberal]

14. LOL!

The tone of some messages just screams "I'm sweating bullets and I've bitten my nails down to the quick".

:P

[Bridget Burke]

15. Or: YOU GUYS really need to panic now!

I've got no doubt that some Republicans are up to no good today. But spreading fear in advance is another old Republican tactic. Even at DU.

Have a good day!

[Cuban_Liberal]

17. Thanks!

My shift starts at 10:00.

:)

[sendero]

16. The fact is...

... that there is only so much we can do about some of these attempts at voter intimidation. All we can really do is not be intimidated.

Nobody is going to take a swing at you for voting. If you are challenged, go through the procedure and don't worry about it. It only works for them if the intimidations work, the key is to make sure they don't.

In the interest of full disclosure I live in a damn Red state and voting will be uneventful. But vote I will!

[Cuban_Liberal]

20. Exactly!

Take a deep breath, follow the instructions of the election judges and cast your vote as your conscience dictates.

:thumbsup:

[asthmaticeog]

21. Thanks for the sanity injection, Cuban_Liberal.

[Cuban_Liberal]

23. It's going to be OK.

We're not going to stand by idly this time, like we did in 2000. Our party, our unions and our elected officials have laid thoughtful and elaborate plans to protect the rights of ALL voters.

:)

[Cuban_Liberal]

24. Illinois' Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) weighs in:

Just heard on the local news ( http://www.wandtv.com ):

"My office will have a zero tolerance policy for any attempts at voter harassment or intimidation. Illinois law presumes that every person requesting a ballot is entitled to vote, and 'any unlawful attempt' to interfere with that person's right will result in prosecution by this office to the fullest extent of the law. Any person who believes that their rights have been violated, or any person witnessing any such attempt is encouraged to call my office immediately...."

:thumbsup:

[Confident]

26. admirable but challengers don't appear in safely Blue (IL) or Red states

[Cuban_Liberal]

27. That's neither true, nor is it the point.

There's more at stake than the Presidency, and have no doubt that the Republicans care just as much about the House of Representatives, etc., every bit as much.

[Cuban_Liberal]

25. Kick for courage!

:dem: