Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
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• The process for challenging a registered voter’s right<br />
to vote before Election Day and <strong>the</strong> use of voter<br />
caging lists;<br />
• The process for challenging a registered voter’s right<br />
to vote on Election Day;<br />
• The behavior of poll w<strong>at</strong>chers or observers <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
polls on Election Day; and<br />
• Protections for voters against intimid<strong>at</strong>ion, outside<br />
and inside <strong>the</strong> polls.<br />
The report measures <strong>the</strong> extent to which each st<strong>at</strong>e’s<br />
laws protects voters’ rights in <strong>the</strong>se areas, and assesses<br />
<strong>the</strong>m in a set of compar<strong>at</strong>ive charts as s<strong>at</strong>isfactory,<br />
mixed, or uns<strong>at</strong>isfactory. Each section includes<br />
recommend<strong>at</strong>ions for best practices in each of <strong>the</strong> areas<br />
we examine. 2<br />
FinDings<br />
In examining <strong>the</strong> ten st<strong>at</strong>es’ laws governing challenges<br />
to voters’ right to vote before Election Day, including<br />
<strong>the</strong> use of voter lists cre<strong>at</strong>ed through caging or o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
unreliable practices, we find Colorado, Nevada, and<br />
Ohio are s<strong>at</strong>isfactory, North Carolina and Texas<br />
are mixed, and Florida, Missouri, New Hampshire,<br />
Pennsylvania, Virginia - five out of <strong>the</strong> ten st<strong>at</strong>es<br />
- uns<strong>at</strong>isfactory. 3<br />
In assessing <strong>the</strong>se st<strong>at</strong>es’ laws governing<br />
challenges to voter’s right to vote on Election Day, and<br />
procedures for determining those challenges, we find<br />
th<strong>at</strong> while some of <strong>the</strong> ten st<strong>at</strong>es have practices th<strong>at</strong><br />
protect voters’ rights, o<strong>the</strong>r st<strong>at</strong>es need improvement. 4<br />
• Texas does not allow for any voter challenges on<br />
Election Day, and Ohio only allows challenges by<br />
election officials; Colorado, New Hampshire, and<br />
North Carolina also have s<strong>at</strong>isfactory protections for<br />
voters from improper Election Day challenges.<br />
• Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia have laws th<strong>at</strong> are<br />
mixed, with some provisions th<strong>at</strong> protect voters’<br />
rights but also room for improvement.<br />
• Florida and Pennsylvania have laws with<br />
uns<strong>at</strong>isfactory protections to guard against<br />
inappropri<strong>at</strong>e Election Day challenges to voter<br />
eligibility.<br />
2 • <strong>Bullies</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ballot</strong> <strong>Box</strong> | September 2012<br />
Our analysis of <strong>the</strong>se st<strong>at</strong>es’ laws governing poll<br />
w<strong>at</strong>chers or observers and <strong>the</strong>ir conduct <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> polls<br />
shows <strong>the</strong>y are also mixed in <strong>the</strong> extent to which <strong>the</strong>y<br />
protect voters’ rights. The laws of Colorado, Nevada,<br />
North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia are s<strong>at</strong>isfactory;<br />
Florida, Missouri, and New Hampshire are mixed.<br />
However, Pennsylvania and Texas allow behavior by<br />
poll observers or poll w<strong>at</strong>chers th<strong>at</strong> could endanger<br />
voting rights. 5<br />
We also summarize <strong>the</strong>se st<strong>at</strong>es’ laws protecting<br />
voters from intimid<strong>at</strong>ion, both outside and inside <strong>the</strong><br />
polls. St<strong>at</strong>e and federal laws barring intimid<strong>at</strong>ion of<br />
voters can be used to protect voters from harassment. 6<br />
However, <strong>the</strong> efficacy of <strong>the</strong>se protections depends on<br />
robust enforcement by election administr<strong>at</strong>ors and law<br />
enforcement officials.<br />
We call upon election administr<strong>at</strong>ors and<br />
officials with <strong>the</strong> Department of Justice to take steps<br />
in advance of and during <strong>the</strong> elections to protect<br />
voters from bullying <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> ballot box. Our intent is<br />
to help minimize <strong>the</strong> level of activity th<strong>at</strong> moves from<br />
positive civic engagement to voter intimid<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
suppression. There must be zero tolerance for bullying<br />
behavior th<strong>at</strong> stands between an eligible voter and her<br />
ballot.