Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
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ConCluSIon<br />
<strong>the</strong> st<strong>at</strong>e laws analyzed in this report vary<br />
in <strong>the</strong> protections <strong>the</strong>y afford voters. In<br />
too many st<strong>at</strong>es, voters are vulnerable<br />
to removal from <strong>the</strong> rolls or not having<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir ballots counted because challengers<br />
can base <strong>the</strong>ir charges on unreliable d<strong>at</strong>a. Too many<br />
jurisdictions fail to provide challenged voters with <strong>the</strong><br />
full protections <strong>the</strong>y should be afforded, such as a right<br />
to a hearing and a presumption of compliance with <strong>the</strong><br />
laws governing qualific<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
Jurisdictions still have time to implement<br />
policies and procedures th<strong>at</strong> will more adequ<strong>at</strong>ely<br />
protect voters during this upcoming election without<br />
<strong>the</strong> need for legisl<strong>at</strong>ion, such as <strong>the</strong> directive issued<br />
by Ohio’s Secretary of St<strong>at</strong>e th<strong>at</strong> specifically prohibits<br />
justifying a voter challenge on returned mail alone. 398<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r critical step st<strong>at</strong>es can take between now and<br />
<strong>the</strong> elections is to make sure <strong>the</strong>ir poll workers and<br />
elections officials are well-versed in <strong>the</strong>ir procedures<br />
and effectively trained to protect voters from wrongful<br />
challenges and intimid<strong>at</strong>ion. St<strong>at</strong>e leaders and<br />
advoc<strong>at</strong>es should work to streng<strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong>ir laws in<br />
upcoming legisl<strong>at</strong>ive sessions as well.<br />
Federal legisl<strong>at</strong>ion has been introduced to<br />
address standards for voter challenges and to guard<br />
against insidious voter caging practices. The Voter<br />
Empowerment Act would, among o<strong>the</strong>r things,<br />
prohibit voter caging and improper challenges. 399 It<br />
would protect eligible voters from being denied <strong>the</strong><br />
right to register or vote based on <strong>the</strong> fact th<strong>at</strong> mail was<br />
returned as undeliverable. 400 The bill would also require<br />
th<strong>at</strong> any voter challenge be backed up by independent<br />
evidence, and if someone o<strong>the</strong>r than an election<br />
official challenges a registered voter’s right to vote<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir challenge must be made on <strong>the</strong> basis of personal<br />
knowledge.<br />
32 • <strong>Bullies</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ballot</strong> <strong>Box</strong> | September 2012<br />
The Department of Justice should engage<br />
in vigorous enforcement of <strong>the</strong> Voting Rights Act<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>r protections against discrimin<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
intimid<strong>at</strong>ion. The Department of Justice should<br />
monitor developments leading up to <strong>the</strong> election and <strong>at</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> polls on Election Day and stand ready to step in to<br />
protect voters from intimid<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
We strongly encourage election officials and<br />
st<strong>at</strong>e law enforcement to be aware of possible voter<br />
intimid<strong>at</strong>ion activity <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> polls and aggressively<br />
enforce anti-intimid<strong>at</strong>ion laws to ensure all eligible<br />
voters can vote without interference. We must all<br />
remain vigilant and allow zero tolerance for bullying <strong>at</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> ballot box.