Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
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aSSeSSment:<br />
are VoterS ProteCted?<br />
ProCedureS For makIng and<br />
determInIng ValIdIty oF ChallengeS<br />
legal BaSIS For ChallengIng<br />
a Voter’S elIgIBIlIty<br />
Who Can Challenge<br />
on eleCtIon day?<br />
St<strong>at</strong>e<br />
mIxed<br />
The requirement th<strong>at</strong> challengers<br />
must be from <strong>the</strong> same precinct helps<br />
prevent excessive challenges. It is<br />
also good th<strong>at</strong> a challenged voter can<br />
vote after affirming her voting qualific<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
through an affidavit.<br />
However, Missouri should improve<br />
its law by requiring th<strong>at</strong> challenges<br />
be in writing under o<strong>at</strong>h, based on<br />
personal knowledge, and supported<br />
by evidence. Missouri should also<br />
provide guidance as to how election<br />
judges should resolve challenges. It<br />
should be clarified th<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> burden<br />
of proof is on <strong>the</strong> challenger, and a<br />
voter who signs an affidavit affirming<br />
her qualific<strong>at</strong>ions is able to vote a<br />
regular ballot.<br />
Once a voter has been challenged, a majority<br />
of <strong>the</strong> election judges <strong>at</strong> a polling place must<br />
determine whe<strong>the</strong>r he or she will be allowed<br />
to vote a regular ballot. If a decision cannot be<br />
reached, <strong>the</strong> question shall be decided by an<br />
election authority.<br />
MO. REV. STAT. § 115.429(3)<br />
The voter may be required to execute an affidavit<br />
under penalty of perjury affirming her<br />
voting qualific<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
MO. REV. STAT. § 115.429(3), (5)<br />
Voters are entitled to cast provisional ballots,<br />
upon executing an affidavit, even if election<br />
authorities determine a voter is ineligible.<br />
MO. REV. STAT. § 115.430<br />
Grounds for challenging an elector<br />
include age, citizenship, legal residence<br />
in <strong>the</strong> st<strong>at</strong>e and <strong>the</strong> appropri<strong>at</strong>e<br />
county, and <strong>the</strong> voter’s registr<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
st<strong>at</strong>us.<br />
FLA. STAT. § 101.048<br />
The grounds for challenges include<br />
citizenship st<strong>at</strong>us, residency, age,<br />
identity, incapacity, and certain c<strong>at</strong>egories<br />
of felon st<strong>at</strong>us.<br />
MO. REV. STAT. §§ 115.429,<br />
115.133<br />
mISSourI A challenger must be a registered<br />
voter in <strong>the</strong> precinct<br />
and must be design<strong>at</strong>ed by<br />
<strong>the</strong> chair of <strong>the</strong> county committee<br />
of a political party<br />
named on <strong>the</strong> ballot.<br />
MO. REV. STAT. § 115.105<br />
mIxed<br />
It is good th<strong>at</strong> Nevada requires<br />
personal knowledge and an affidavit<br />
from challengers.<br />
The detailed provisions for responding<br />
to challenges are very thorough.<br />
However, <strong>the</strong>se rules are potentially<br />
burdensome for voters and confusing<br />
for poll workers. This complexity<br />
could result in eligible, registered<br />
voters being denied <strong>the</strong>ir right to<br />
vote.<br />
A challenger must submit a signed affirm<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
st<strong>at</strong>ing <strong>the</strong> basis for <strong>the</strong> challenge and th<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
challenge is based on personal knowledge.<br />
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.303<br />
The challenged voter must execute an o<strong>at</strong>h or<br />
affirm<strong>at</strong>ion of his or her eligibility to vote.<br />
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.303<br />
The exact procedures will depend on <strong>the</strong><br />
grounds on which <strong>the</strong> voter was challenged.<br />
For instance, a person challenged on <strong>the</strong> basis<br />
th<strong>at</strong> he is not <strong>the</strong> person he claims to be must<br />
show official photo identific<strong>at</strong>ion or have a<br />
person vouch for <strong>the</strong> challenged voter’s identity;<br />
<strong>the</strong> vouching person must <strong>the</strong>mselves be<br />
<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><br />
<strong>the</strong>y be registered.<br />
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.303<br />
If a voter is successfully challenged on grounds<br />
of residency, he or she may only vote <strong>at</strong> a<br />
“special polling place” in <strong>the</strong> county clerk’s<br />
office or <strong>at</strong> such o<strong>the</strong>r loc<strong>at</strong>ions as <strong>the</strong> county<br />
clerk deems necessary during each election.<br />
The challenged voter must also st<strong>at</strong>e under<br />
o<strong>at</strong>h th<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong>y have s<strong>at</strong>isfied <strong>the</strong> appropri<strong>at</strong>e<br />
eligibility requirements.<br />
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.303<br />
A voter may be challenged on <strong>the</strong><br />
following grounds: <strong>the</strong> voter does not<br />
belong to <strong>the</strong> political party design<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
upon <strong>the</strong> register or <strong>the</strong> party<br />
which <strong>the</strong>y claim to belong to; <strong>the</strong><br />
voter does not reside <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> address<br />
listed as his or her residence in <strong>the</strong><br />
election board register; <strong>the</strong> voter<br />
previously voted a ballot for <strong>the</strong> election;<br />
or <strong>the</strong> voter is not <strong>the</strong> person he<br />
or she claims to be.<br />
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.303<br />
neVada Any o<strong>the</strong>r voter registered<br />
in <strong>the</strong> same precinct.<br />
NEV. REV. STAT.<br />
§ 293.303<br />
39 • aPPendIx 2 | St<strong>at</strong>e Laws Governing Election Day Challenges