As if there aren't enough potential pitfalls in this year's election: long lines, lost absentee ballots, ensuring you are registered, finding your polling location, and making the time to vote, you could get there and find your right to vote challenged by another person at the polls. "Challenged at the polls? What do you mean?" "Why would someone challenge me?" "Is that legal?" There is a combination of surprise, confusion and consternation from people when I talk to them about voter challengers at the polls. The reason people often state for challenging a voter is to prevent voter fraud. But before you believe that, read this.
Don't let all this get you down, this post is to make you realize how much EVERY VOTE COUNTS. Why would they go to so much trouble to challenge a individual voters if they didn't think it would make a difference? So if you had any question before about whether your vote can make a difference or is really needed...here is some evidence that should help prove it.
Yes, it is legal to challenge a voter at the polls. The rules about this vary from state to state. The National Association of Secretaries of State has a website called http://www.canivote.org/ where you can check your registration and polling location. Confirm that before you go. To find out more information on your state's rules go to the ACLU's website and download the Voter Empowerment Card for your state. They have also posted a great video "Always Practice Safe Voting" you should watch as well.
Project Vote has a 26 page document titled, The Role of Challengers in Elections, available for download on challengers that answers many of the questions you may have. They are already seeing issues with early voting.
For a light, but still serious look at voter challenges and other ways the vote is being suppressed - download Robert Kennedy Jr. and Greg Palast's comic book, "Steal Back Your Vote" and read their article in Rolling Stone.
Some ways to prevent being challenged:
- Don't wear a t-shirt, ping, button or other item that identifies who you plan to vote for. Some states ban it completely, including Vermont, South Carolina and New York.
- Don't discuss your vote with people in line. Voting used to be considered more private. I'm not saying you have to do this, but it may lead to you being able to quietly come in, vote, and go home.
- Vote early.
- If you do wait till Tuesday, November 4th, vote during the morning or before or after lunch. After 5pm is when most people are at the polls.
This has happened in the past and they often know who they are going to target. The practice was so bad in the 2004 election that some states have passed new laws, including Minnesota. NPR has a great article about voter challenges.
This is usually a Republican strategy to slow down the line, discourage people, scare lower income or minorities and in general disrupt the process. A recent story in South Carolina illustrates the tactics used.
If you don't believe this will happen, read these articles:
A Wis. Call for GOP Poll Watchers Draws National Notice -Wahington Post
National GOP Officials Outline Poll-Watcher Plan - LA Times, California
Democrats Press GOP To Ease Off Game Plan for Voter Challenges - Washington Post, Maryland
Voter Challenges - Kolotv.com, Reno, NV
State to Notify 4,770 Their Votes Are ‘Challenged’ - Altanta Journal Constitution, Georgia
I spent three hours today digging for information on what to do if you are challenged. I could only find one blog post that had a broken link to an article in the Dayton Daily News. I will keep digging and see what I can find! Thanks for reading.
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