Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
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estrict protests within a certain area surrounding<br />
medical facilities th<strong>at</strong> provide abortions, in order<br />
to protect doctors and p<strong>at</strong>ients from intimid<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and harassment by protesters. 395 The Supreme<br />
Court recognized <strong>the</strong> government’s interest in<br />
protecting <strong>the</strong> “privacy interest in avoiding unwanted<br />
communic<strong>at</strong>ion” and <strong>the</strong> right of individuals “to<br />
be let alone.” 396 The Court reasoned th<strong>at</strong> “<strong>the</strong> First<br />
Amendment does not demand th<strong>at</strong> p<strong>at</strong>ients <strong>at</strong> a<br />
medical facility undertake Herculean efforts to escape<br />
<strong>the</strong> cacophony of political protests.” 397 We might think<br />
about polling places as a similar harassment free zone<br />
to guard against voter intimid<strong>at</strong>ion and harassment <strong>at</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> polls. Specifically, voter intimid<strong>at</strong>ion laws could<br />
cre<strong>at</strong>e a protected zone around polling places in which<br />
non-official inquiries into or challenges of a voter’s<br />
qualific<strong>at</strong>ions or ability to vote would be prohibited<br />
– just as electioneering is prohibited within certain<br />
distances of polling places – in order to ensure <strong>the</strong><br />
integrity of <strong>the</strong> election.<br />
St<strong>at</strong>utes th<strong>at</strong> provide zones of protection would<br />
help address situ<strong>at</strong>ions where voters are asked by<br />
people o<strong>the</strong>r than election officials whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y have<br />
valid identific<strong>at</strong>ion or where voters are told th<strong>at</strong> voters<br />
with outstanding traffic tickets could be arrested if<br />
<strong>the</strong>y try to vote. Intimid<strong>at</strong>ing and disruptive behavior<br />
should be curtailed by laws th<strong>at</strong> prohibit people from<br />
impeding <strong>the</strong> orderly conduct of <strong>the</strong> election within<br />
<strong>the</strong>se protected areas.<br />
September 2012 | <strong>Bullies</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ballot</strong> <strong>Box</strong> • 31