Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
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IntroduCtIon<br />
“In recent elections we have received disturbing<br />
reports and complaints about unacceptable, illegal<br />
behavior by observers.”<br />
elections in America should be free, fair, and<br />
accessible. Eligible Americans should not<br />
have to overcome burdensome barriers to<br />
cast <strong>the</strong>ir ballots. Unfortun<strong>at</strong>ely voters in<br />
recent elections have encountered wrongful<br />
challenges and intimid<strong>at</strong>ion as partisan groups have<br />
launched organized efforts in key b<strong>at</strong>tleground st<strong>at</strong>es<br />
and targeted counties. Given <strong>the</strong> high stakes, voter<br />
challenges also are expected to be a major tool used by<br />
partisans in <strong>the</strong> November 2012 elections.<br />
Unwarranted challenges to voters’ eligibility<br />
can lead to problems <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> polls for everyone seeking<br />
to cast a ballot by depleting resources, distracting<br />
election administr<strong>at</strong>ors and leading to longer lines for<br />
voters. Such activities present a real danger to <strong>the</strong> fair<br />
administr<strong>at</strong>ion of elections and to <strong>the</strong> fundamental<br />
freedom to vote.<br />
wrongFul Challenges<br />
anD intimiD<strong>at</strong>ion in 2012:<br />
reasons For ConCern<br />
Although voter challenges have been used for decades<br />
by partisans seeking electoral advantage, 7 a new<br />
thre<strong>at</strong> emerged in 2010 when an organized and wellfunded<br />
Texas-based organiz<strong>at</strong>ion with defined partisan<br />
interests, <strong>the</strong> King Street P<strong>at</strong>riots, through its project<br />
True <strong>the</strong> Vote, was observed intimid<strong>at</strong>ing voters <strong>at</strong><br />
multiple polling loc<strong>at</strong>ions serving communities of color<br />
during early voting in Harris County. 8 Members of this<br />
4 • <strong>Bullies</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ballot</strong> <strong>Box</strong> | September 2012<br />
Tea Party-affili<strong>at</strong>ed group reportedly interfered<br />
with voters — allegedly w<strong>at</strong>ching <strong>the</strong>m vote, “hovering<br />
over” voters, blocking lines, and engaging in<br />
confront<strong>at</strong>ional convers<strong>at</strong>ions with election workers. 9<br />
Under Texas law, poll w<strong>at</strong>chers are not allowed even to<br />
speak to a voter.<br />
These activities have not been limited to Texas.<br />
In a 2011 special election in Massachusetts, a Tea Party<br />
group was reported to have harassed L<strong>at</strong>ino voters<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> polls in Southbridge, Massachusetts.<br />
The Southbridge town clerk protested <strong>the</strong>se actions,<br />
reporting th<strong>at</strong> targeted voters left saying, “I’ll never<br />
vote again,” while a retired judge witnessed “citizens<br />
coming from <strong>the</strong>ir voting experience shaken or in<br />
tears.” 10<br />
In <strong>the</strong> June 2012 Wisconsin recall election,<br />
many students reported being challenged by True <strong>the</strong><br />
Vote poll w<strong>at</strong>chers, as <strong>the</strong> organiz<strong>at</strong>ion even mocked<br />
<strong>the</strong> students on Twitter. 11 The Wisconsin Government<br />
Accountability Board issued a st<strong>at</strong>ement saying “in<br />
recent elections we have received disturbing reports<br />
and complaints about unacceptable, illegal behavior<br />
by observers. Voters expect a calm setting in which to<br />
exercise <strong>the</strong>ir right to vote.” 12<br />
Now active in 30 st<strong>at</strong>es, True <strong>the</strong> Vote has<br />
made it clear th<strong>at</strong> it intends to r<strong>at</strong>chet up its activities<br />
in 2012. 13 The group is coordin<strong>at</strong>ing efforts throughout<br />
<strong>the</strong> country to purge <strong>the</strong> voter rolls, issue citizen<br />
challenges to registr<strong>at</strong>ions based on its own criteria and