Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
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challenged, <strong>the</strong> process for determining <strong>the</strong> challenge<br />
is excessively burdensome for <strong>the</strong> voter, potentially<br />
confusing for poll workers, and could result in eligible<br />
registered voters being denied <strong>the</strong>ir right to vote. In<br />
all cases <strong>the</strong> challenged voter must execute an o<strong>at</strong>h or<br />
affirm<strong>at</strong>ion of his eligibility to vote, 238 but <strong>the</strong> exact<br />
procedure depends on <strong>the</strong> grounds on which <strong>the</strong> voter<br />
was challenged. 239 A person challenged on residency<br />
grounds must also show “s<strong>at</strong>isfactory identific<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
which contains proof of <strong>the</strong> address <strong>at</strong> which he<br />
actually resides.” 240<br />
A person challenged on <strong>the</strong> basis th<strong>at</strong> he is not<br />
<strong>the</strong> person he claims to be must show official photo<br />
identific<strong>at</strong>ion or have a person vouch for <strong>the</strong> challenged<br />
voter’s identity; <strong>the</strong> vouching person must <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />
be <strong>at</strong> least 18 years old and have photo identific<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
though <strong>the</strong>re is not a requirement th<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong>y be<br />
registered. 241 This is very problem<strong>at</strong>ic, as many people<br />
will lack <strong>the</strong> necessary identific<strong>at</strong>ion, or not have it<br />
with <strong>the</strong>m <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> poll. As a result, many eligible voters<br />
may not be able to cast a vote th<strong>at</strong> will be counted,<br />
unless <strong>the</strong>y are vouched for successfully, under o<strong>at</strong>h,<br />
by someone else over <strong>the</strong> age of 18. 242 If a voter is<br />
successfully challenged on grounds of residency, he or<br />
she may only vote <strong>at</strong> a “special polling place” in <strong>the</strong><br />
county clerk’s office or <strong>at</strong> such o<strong>the</strong>r loc<strong>at</strong>ions as <strong>the</strong><br />
county clerk deems necessary during each election. 243<br />
Such persons may only submit a vote for a limited<br />
subset of offices and questions. 244 Moreover, <strong>the</strong>se<br />
lengthy procedures are likely to result in longer wait<br />
times in precincts where voters are being challenged,<br />
imposing burdens on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r voters in <strong>the</strong> precinct.<br />
Nevada also allows members of <strong>the</strong> general<br />
public to observe <strong>the</strong> conduct of voting <strong>at</strong> a polling<br />
place. 245 Members of <strong>the</strong> general public are not<br />
permitted to photograph <strong>the</strong> conduct of voting <strong>at</strong><br />
a polling place, nor may <strong>the</strong>y make audio or video<br />
recordings of photograph <strong>the</strong> conduct of voting. 246<br />
Before any person will be permitted to observe <strong>the</strong><br />
conduct of voting, he or she must sign a form st<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
th<strong>at</strong>, during <strong>the</strong> conduct of voting, <strong>the</strong> person:<br />
• may not talk to voters within <strong>the</strong> polling place;<br />
• may not use a mobile phone or computer within <strong>the</strong><br />
polling place;<br />
• may not advoc<strong>at</strong>e 247 for or against a candid<strong>at</strong>e,<br />
political party or ballot question;<br />
• may not argue for or against or challenge any<br />
decisions made by county election personnel;<br />
• may not interfere with <strong>the</strong> conduct of voting; and<br />
• may be removed from <strong>the</strong> polling place by <strong>the</strong><br />
county clerk for viol<strong>at</strong>ing <strong>the</strong> election laws or any of<br />
<strong>the</strong> above. 248<br />
Nevada’s laws prohibiting observers from speaking<br />
with voters in <strong>the</strong> polling place are clear and are<br />
protective of voters’ rights and privacy. A person<br />
observing <strong>the</strong> conduct of voting may remain in a<br />
design<strong>at</strong>ed area to observe activities conducted <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
polling place so long as he or she does not interfere<br />
with voting. 249 The design<strong>at</strong>ed area must allow for<br />
meaningful observ<strong>at</strong>ion but may not be loc<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
anywhere th<strong>at</strong> would infringe on <strong>the</strong> privacy of a<br />
voter’s ballot. 250<br />
new hamPshire<br />
New Hampshire’s laws are very protective of<br />
voting rights. In New Hampshire, any voter may<br />
be challenged by an election official, a design<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
challenger, or any o<strong>the</strong>r voter registered in <strong>the</strong> town<br />
or ward in which <strong>the</strong> election is held. 251 Challengers<br />
may be design<strong>at</strong>ed ei<strong>the</strong>r by <strong>the</strong> <strong>at</strong>torney general, 252<br />
or by a st<strong>at</strong>e, city, or town committee of a political<br />
party. 253 A st<strong>at</strong>ement signed by ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> <strong>at</strong>torney<br />
general or <strong>the</strong> appropri<strong>at</strong>e chairman of a political<br />
committee is sufficient evidence of <strong>the</strong> authority of<br />
any such challenger. 254 Challengers are “assigned by<br />
<strong>the</strong> moder<strong>at</strong>or or o<strong>the</strong>r election officer presiding <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
polling place to such position or positions within <strong>the</strong><br />
polling place as will enable him to see and hear each<br />
voter as he offers to vote.” 255 The New Hampshire<br />
st<strong>at</strong>utes th<strong>at</strong> regul<strong>at</strong>e <strong>the</strong> appointment of challengers<br />
are clear th<strong>at</strong> an appointed challenger may not be<br />
deprived of his or her authority to challenge a voter. 256<br />
All challenges, whe<strong>the</strong>r from design<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
challengers, officials, or members of <strong>the</strong> public, must<br />
be signed, under o<strong>at</strong>h, and submitted in writing to a<br />
moder<strong>at</strong>or. 257 Upon receipt of a written challenge, <strong>the</strong><br />
moder<strong>at</strong>or must determine if <strong>the</strong> challenge to <strong>the</strong> ballot<br />
is well grounded. 258 If <strong>the</strong> moder<strong>at</strong>or determines th<strong>at</strong><br />
September 2012 | <strong>Bullies</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ballot</strong> <strong>Box</strong> • 21