These assholes will be everywhere, so if you can, volunteer to be a poll watcher:
True the Vote is a voting vigilante group that never should have grown past its Texas cowboy-meets-Tea Party justice roots. Its top leaders have a jaunty, string ‘em up, guilty-until-proven-innocent mindset. They represent the most extreme views on the Right when it comes to voting—that the process is filled with corruption that is bound to be exploited by local political bosses and machines, which, of course, are Democratic. Where liberals see that a third of all eligible voters in America do not vote and want to make the process more accessible, the Right believes to do so would mean the end of America as they know it. They think it’s patriotic to be self-appointed judges, juries and if necessary, citizen police, to stop what they believe is rampant illegal voting. This purview goes far beyond today’s fights over voter ID.
I just don’t see where the MSM get’s the issue here. These challenges will take place in swing states’ minority and democratic precincts. The grounds of challenge will be specious and intended to drive votes into the provisional category. The one I expect to be rampant will be “this ID is not yours.” What do you do? Know your local voting laws (the Voting Rights Act applies to only a very narrow range of issues). In Minnesota, only a badge wearing poll official or a voter actually in line to vote can challenge. The challenged voter needs to know that there is a state form for challenges to a voter’s eligibility. When that form is presented to the contestant make it clear that you demand that the statutory oath be administered so that you can make a citizen’s arrest for perjury (note that this is a felony; the poll judges have only a disorderly conduct charge to maintain order in the polling place). Remind the challenger that any factual ground must be a matter of personal knowledge. When you hear a discernably false fact adduced demand name and address; make clear that you will be pressing charges and suing; and call the police to demand an arrest. This will not make you popular in the precinct, but it will shut the offender down. The procedures may vary widely from state to state. Most will have some form of this challenge process because they don’t want resort to violence. If you volunteer as a poll watcher, Republican or Democrat, it is your obligation to know the challenge procedure and how to maintain order in the precinct. These zealots are out there, self convinced guardians against their own worst nightmares. If enough of us don’t know what to do this election could descend into anarchy.
I heard a report on this data base of voting fraud crimes/allegations just recently on WNYC, not sure which program. BUT, the crux of their finding is that from 2000 through, iirc, 2008 or 2010 there were only TEN INCIDENTS of FALSE IDENTIFY VOTING. 10, count’em, 10.
And for this how many valid voters will be deprived of their right to vote??? This is so unamerican that even Repubs should be against this kind of voter discouragement.
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<b<Comprehensive Database of U.S. Voter Fraud Uncovers No Evidence That Photo ID Is Needed
By Natasha Khan and Corbin Carson | News21
Published Aug. 12, 2012, 10:39 a.m.
SIDEBAR: Exhaustive Database of Voter Fraud Cases Turns Up Scant Evidence That It Happens
A News21 analysis of 2,068 alleged election-fraud cases since 2000 shows that while fraud has occurred, the rate is infinitesimal, and in-person voter impersonation on Election Day, which prompted 37 state legislatures to enact or consider tough voter ID laws, is virtually non-existent.
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A must read and should be bookmarked.
Apology — I was away from the computer too long and forgot I hadn’t done a fine proof. Forgot to close the Bold tag.