What would you do if someone tried to stop you from voting at the polls?

[bluestateguy]

Like, say a "poll watcher" got in your way at the polls? Or a precinct worker told you that you could not vote because you were a "felon"? Or you were physically threatened at the polls?

[saltpoint]

1. I'd rip his damn nuts off and mail 'em to Karl Rove.

[deaniac21]

16. What if these guys were the culprits......

[saltpoint]

22. Are these scenes from a porno film, or what?

[deaniac21]

24. They are the current and former UFC super heavyweight

World Champions. Ultimate Fighting is mixed martial arts fighting in which pretty much anything goes.

[saltpoint]

26. Yep. They look like a determined bunch.

[Ezlivin]

32. Mixed Martial Arts - accept no substitutes

As a former boxing fan, I'll testify that MMA is the best. Corruption doesn't exist yet and the fights are typically very entertaining. The fighters are also in better shape and don't suffer the mind-bending damage that boxing causes.

Do you think that Matt Hughes will be beat by any of the "comeback kids" on the latest Ultimate Fighter series?

[deaniac21]

41. No. Matt Hughes is da MAN!

[me b zola]

29. I'd rip their damn nuts off and mail them to Karl Rove

[deaniac21]

42. You must be one big woman. Tim Silvia is 6' 6" 260 lbs. with

knockout (death to you) power in both hands, elbows and feet. Andrei Arlovski is 6' 4" 240 lbs. with pretty much the same type power.

[Clark2008]

47. Yeah - but I'm guessing he'd still fall over in immense pain

if she kicked his balls - just like any other man would. Which is why I've always wondered why, when someone is tough, they say he has "balls." Balls are pretty weak, if you ask me.... now ovaries, on the other hand...

:evilgrin:

[deaniac21]

59. I've actually seen him kicked in the balls. He knocked the guy

out!

[sam sarrha]

2. i would place him/her under citizens arrest.. it is a $400,000 lawsuit

especially if they say my signature is not acceptable and they are not a 'Certified' hand writing expert.

[benddem]

3. call the cops

then call the county democratic party and ask why the hell they don't have a poll watcher at that polling station????

[Cameron27]

27. That's the right answer

and the best approach.

[aquart]

4. Don't the Dems have lawyers ready?

What are we doing to protect our votes in your area?

[porphyrian]

1) Video Evidence

Everything technological today seems to have the ability to take digital pictures and/or video. Record everything. One good video could bring the whole fucking thing down.

[cally]

30. I think I might do a happy dance if they told me I couldn't vote

I'd pull out the cell phone and start taking pictures and recording video. Then I'd start calling lawyers before I left the polling place. Then the happy dance because I'd love to be part of a lawsuit.

[napi21]

5. Probably get arrested~ I've gotten quite mouthy and loud in my

old age, and I no longer GAS who hears me if I know something is wrong. I could see the police coming as we speak.

[Pathwalker]

6. Throw a hissy fit the size of Texas. Big enough

to make the evening news. Won't happen though, I live in a small town where everyone not only knows everybody, they know what you had for dinner last night. AND - all the poll workers are retired UNION workers. AND they all have Democratic yard signs, even if this is Repukeville.

[Reciprocity]

7. Call the local TV station first, then the cops.

[Gwerlain]

8. Smile, pull out a notebook, and ask for their name.

Followed by the reason they are at the poll, and their supervisor's name, and then ask to speak to that person. Smiling all the while.

[Divernan]

14. So far, yours is the only sensible reply on this thread.

If one's priority is to VOTE and not to mouth off, that is.

I just finished a training session on the new machines here in Pennsylvania. Although ID is not automatically required of voters in this state, carry ID with you, just to protect your right to vote in case you are challenged. It can be any photo ID, utility bills addressed to you in your voting district - there's a list of acceptable forms of ID that the Judge of Elections will have at your polling place. However, you don't want to have to go home to get ID and then come back to vote.

Another solution (in PA) is to demand a provisional ballot. You vote and then the county election office will verify that you're registered (for example, if someone was incorrectly dropped from the list of voters). My understanding is that if you've moved within the state (of PA) and haven't updated the address on your voter registration, you can go back to your old polling place and vote one more time.

[BOSSHOG]

9. I'd make the crime section of the next day's paper

[deaniac21]

19. What if Tim and Andrei were the aggressive poll workers?

[U4ikLefty]

38. Come back with MANY more of my "friends". One UFC champ vs 10 vatos

...they lose.

[deaniac21]

43. Those two could pick your low rider up and throw it...

:hippie:

[NV Whino]

10. After I whacked them upside the head...

then I'd do all the legal stuff mentioned above.

[smoogatz]

11. Sinatra-sized shitfit followed by physical assault

followed by extremely disruptive behavior (table-flipping, etc) followed by arrest and fine, which my very fancy L.A. lawyer would appeal, followed by multiple lawsuits and possibly national media exposure. But the wingnut "poll watchers" don't fuck with 6'2", 200 lb white guys in their forties, generally speaking. Wonder why?

[Marie26]

12. Sue 'em.

It's the American way!

[warrens]

13. The words "vote-stealing nazi shithead"

Would be used frequently for the hours and hours I would be there making trouble, waiting for the cops and local TV to show up.

[gratuitous]

15. I'd go to another mail box

And drop my vote-by-mail ballot in there. If the "poll watcher" kept harrassing and stalking me, I'd take out my cell phone and threaten to call the cops. If the delusional person kept at it, I'd make good on my threat, wait for the cops to take him away, then put my ballot in the mail box.

[WilliamPitt]

17. Ever see what happens when you kick someone in the knee?

A straight kick to the kneecap that bends the knee out the wrong way, a kick delivered swiftly and below the sight line?

It's pretty remarkable.

Then I'd vote. Then I'd call a friend and tell them to have my bail ready.

[Lindacooks]

18. Right hook to the jaw.

[William769]

20. I would use my 2nd Amendment right!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. Physical assault.

Hopefully I'd have something heavy on my person at the time.

[meldroc]

23. First, demand for proof of authority.

If someone acts like a cop and tells me I can't vote, I'd demand to see his badge, his full name, and badge number. If he doesn't immediately produce them, I'd follow up with a swift kick to the nuts.

Yes, in some cases, violence is acceptable.

[dave502d]

25. I'd rip the arms off of ten repunks, that would give me ten vote's. n/t

[Dr Fate]

28. I would call the press- and not leave until dragged away by police.

And would knock over things and make a big scene- everything short of assault on another person- unless they touched me first.

I WISH this kind of thing I hear about would happen to me.

[Gormy Cuss]

31. I'd do what I've done in the past.

Say in a booming voice "I have been registered to vote in this location for X years and I am willing to sign an affidavit on the spot stating that I am a resident of the same address and have no legal impediment to voting. The burden of proof is on you."

From that point, it could get ugly, but I learned as a young child that most bullies are cowards and standing up to them is all that is needed.

on edit: I've only lived in states where ID'ing at the polls is not typical. I realize that it would play out differently in other states.

[Igel]

33. Here's the correct answer.

(1) If it's a poll watcher that's the problem, complain to the precinct captain (whatever the top dog at the polling table in your area's called). It's his/her job to maintain order at the polling place. If he doesn't do it, get the name and report him to the BOE; they probably can't do anything but talk to him, since most places barely have enough poll workers. They might move him to another station, or tell him he won't be called again to work the polls.

(2) If you're denied a ballot at the polling station by the poll workers, or your right to vote is challenged and cannot be overcome by the evidence you have, you have a few choices.

(a) Make sure they understood you properly and have been paying attention. I've seen a few people told they weren't registered either because their name wasn't spelled correctly in the book, the poll worker missed the page the person's name was on, the poll worker didn't hear the name properly or spell it properly. I've seen a voter rip into poll workers because, obviously, the voter was so perfect that he never misheard another person, misspelled a name, or had two pages in a book stick together.

(b) Get more evidence that you belong there. Example: In NY any poll worker can challenge you if they think your signatures don't match. They can ask for ID. They're within the law. You don't have suitable ID, ask them what ID is suitable. Then go get it ID. The poll workers aren't going anywhere. Furthermore, I've seen more than a few people show up at the wrong polling place, some sent by poll workers that couldn't read a map.

(c) If you're sure you're registered and your name's not in the book, contact the BOE. Clarify why it's not there; mistakes happen.

(d) If all else fails--and it will succeed or fail in a period of minutes--contact your country dem party office. They have lawyers sitting around, paid or pro bono, for such purposes. Regardless, be nice to them. They will ask you about some of what I've written. If you haven't done what you can and should, many of the lawyers will not be amused, even if they're smiling.

(3) If you're physically threatened at the polls, call for the precinct captain. That's the person responsible for the polling place. If s/he's useless, then call the police. Physically threatening somebody that hasn't provoked it is illegal. But make sure that you haven't provoked it. One professor of mine (John) was hauled before the provost because he tackled another professor (Jim) just after a faculty meeting had ended and punched him. The dept. secretary was called in to testify at John's suspension hearing, prelimary to firing him; she said Jim's account was accurate as far as it went, but oddly omitted the part where Jim leaned across the conference table and punched John in the face, thereby causing the meeting to end. The provost was not amused, and told Jim to go back on his meds or get his walking papers.

Important: Be nice to the poll workers, even if they're asses. They put in a long day for little pay and have to deal with a lot of people, some of whom are asses.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[newyawker99]

44. Hi MeanBeagle!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Karenca]

54. Mod------

To: GeorgiaDawg32

Yeah, it's gonna be funny lurking in DU and hearing their wails of frustration when they don't get the seats. I'll be sure and post some funny stuff their myself. I'll probably get booted in about a minute.

37 posted on 10/24/2006 7:25:47 PM PDT by phoenix0468 (http://www.mylocalforum.com -- Go Speak Your Mind.)
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies | Report Abuse >

******************

To: phoenix0468

I just registered myself. I am MeanBeagle.

39 posted on 10/24/2006 9:14:30 PM PDT by YdontUleaveLibs (Reason is out to lunch. How may I help you?)
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies | Report Abuse >

[caledesi]

51. Hey Mean! We know who you are. nt

[Human Torch]

52. self-delete

[Karenca]

53. Beagle---We know who you are

Yeah, it's gonna be funny lurking in DU and hearing their wails of frustration when they don't get the seats. I'll be sure and post some funny stuff their myself. I'll probably get booted in about a minute.

37 posted on 10/24/2006 7:25:47 PM PDT by phoenix0468 (http://www.mylocalforum.com -- Go Speak Your Mind.)
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies | Report Abuse >

******************

To: phoenix0468

I just registered myself. I am MeanBeagle.

39 posted on 10/24/2006 9:14:30 PM PDT by YdontUleaveLibs (Reason is out to lunch. How may I help you?)
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies | Report Abuse >

*****************

[Renew Deal]

55. What's up you inbred piece of ship.

Go back to you 90's looking dump.

[boolean]

34. Kick him in the nuts (nm)

[bdamomma]

35. I probably get really pissed, and say we are no longer a free

country.

[AZBlue]

36. Call the police and every tv and radio station I could think of.

That is once I'd figured I couldn't get around them, after trying every means possible.

[LoZoccolo]

37. For a physical threat I would pepper spray them in the face.

Why more of us don't carry these legal weapons I can't figure out. Or why so many of us are for gun control.

[WinkyDink]

40. I'd call my Precinct Captain ASAP. And the media, if need be.

[seriousstan]

45. As a precinct judge I condemn all the fucking fools on this thread

that advocate violence against a "precinct worker told you that you could not vote because you were a "felon". That is the problem with the law NOT THE WORKERS!!

[bluestateguy]

46. There are felons and there are "felons"

A felon is a felon, and if that state's laws say you can't vote then that is the law, not the precinct worker's fault. So I agree with you there.

A "felon" is like what happened to 55,000 Floridians in 2000, mostly minorities who were misidentified as felons by the Secretary of State's office (using ChoicePoint), and told they could not vote. As we now know, they of course were not felons.

I do not advocate violence, unless it's for self defense. Civil disobedience, however, I fully support.

[Dorian Gray]

48. Well, if I were a felon

i would not be able to vote, right But, in any of the other circumstances, I would go ahead and vote. In NYC it's all so liberal it's not really a problem, but do people really threaten others physically at polls in other places?

[Orsino]

49. Ask him/her for ID, and to sign a statement explaining the action...

Might prove useful in court. As far as physical threats go, just yell for help--there'll be plenty of it about.

[Beelzebud]

50. I'd call the cops, and then the local press.

[Hubert Flottz]

56. I'd go and get the state police and then go back and vote!

[slampoet]

57. I'd break out the small video camera that I've taken

to the last three elections.

It doesn't record for long but it does the same job as a still camera.

Mostly people back down when they think about how what they are doing looks.

[Rex]

58. Well since I can vote, I'd move them aside and vote.

nt