Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
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1. st<strong>at</strong>e laws governing Pre-eleCtion Day Challenges<br />
aPPendICeS<br />
aSSeSSment:<br />
are VoterS ProteCted?<br />
hoW IS <strong>the</strong> Challenge reSolVed?<br />
Wh<strong>at</strong> muSt a Challenger<br />
do to FIle a Challenge?<br />
Who Can Challenge<br />
BeFore eleCtIon day?<br />
St<strong>at</strong>e<br />
S<strong>at</strong>ISFaCtory<br />
Colorado law has some excellent<br />
provisions – for example, it requires<br />
<strong>the</strong> challenge to be in writing<br />
accompanied by documentary<br />
evidence, hearings, and it requires<br />
<strong>the</strong> challenger to bear <strong>the</strong> burden<br />
of proof.<br />
Colorado could improve its laws<br />
by requiring challengers to file<br />
under o<strong>at</strong>h and indic<strong>at</strong>e personal<br />
knowledge of <strong>the</strong> alleged deficiency.<br />
A hearing must take place no l<strong>at</strong>er than 30<br />
days after a challenge is filed.<br />
Challenged voter is entitled to appear.<br />
The challenger is required to appear and bears<br />
<strong>the</strong> burden of proof.<br />
COLO. REV. STAT. § 1-9-101(1)(a).<br />
A decision to be issued within five days of <strong>the</strong><br />
hearing.<br />
COLO. REV. STAT. § 1-9-101(1)(b)<br />
Must be in writing, include <strong>the</strong><br />
basis for challenge, and include<br />
documentary evidence.<br />
Filed with <strong>the</strong> county clerk and<br />
record no l<strong>at</strong>er than 60 days<br />
before election.<br />
COLO. REV. STAT. § 1-9-101(1)<br />
(a)<br />
Colorado Anyone registered to vote in<br />
Colorado can challenge any<br />
person whose name appears<br />
in a county registr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
record.<br />
COLO. REV. STAT.<br />
§ 1-9-101(1)(a)<br />
unS<strong>at</strong>ISFaCtory<br />
Florida could improve its laws by<br />
requiring hearings and by limiting<br />
challenges in <strong>the</strong> days immedi<strong>at</strong>ely<br />
prior to <strong>the</strong> election.<br />
Fur<strong>the</strong>r, o<strong>the</strong>r than for uniformed<br />
service members and those who<br />
have moved within <strong>the</strong> same<br />
county, <strong>the</strong> only avenue to cure a<br />
challenge is to vote provisionally<br />
and <strong>the</strong>n seek to have <strong>the</strong> provisional<br />
ballot counted. The burden<br />
of proof should instead rest on <strong>the</strong><br />
challenger.<br />
Florida has one exemplary provision,<br />
specifying th<strong>at</strong> frivolous<br />
challenges are first degree misdemeanors.<br />
The challenged voter must be provided with a<br />
copy of <strong>the</strong> challenge.<br />
FLA. STAT. § 101.111<br />
For challenges based on a question of residency,<br />
<strong>the</strong> challenged voter can cast a regular ballot<br />
by proving residency <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> polls only if she<br />
is a member of <strong>the</strong> active uniformed services<br />
or moving within <strong>the</strong> same county.<br />
FLA. STAT. § 101.045(2)(b)<br />
O<strong>the</strong>rwise, <strong>the</strong> voter may cast a provisional<br />
ballot.<br />
FLA. STAT. § 101.111(2)(c)<br />
For a provisional ballot to be counted, written<br />
evidence supporting eligibility must be presented<br />
to <strong>the</strong> supervisor of elections by 5 p.m.<br />
on <strong>the</strong> 2nd day after <strong>the</strong> election.<br />
FLA. STAT. § 101.048(1)<br />
Must be written under o<strong>at</strong>h,<br />
specifying <strong>the</strong> reason for <strong>the</strong> challenge.<br />
Must be filed within 30 days immedi<strong>at</strong>ely<br />
before an election.<br />
A voter can be challenged on any<br />
ground, providing <strong>the</strong>re is reason<br />
to believe <strong>the</strong> challenged voter is<br />
voting “illegally.”<br />
FLA. STAT. § 101.111(1)<br />
Anyone th<strong>at</strong> files a “frivolous<br />
challenge” commits a first degree<br />
misdemeanor.<br />
FLA. STAT. §101.111(2)<br />
FlorIda Any registered voter in Florida<br />
can challenge ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />
voter’s eligibility to vote,<br />
providing <strong>the</strong> challenger is<br />
from <strong>the</strong> same county.<br />
FLA. STAT. § 101.111(1)(a)<br />
33 • aPPendIx 1 | St<strong>at</strong>e Laws Governing Pre-Election Day Challenges