RE: Voter challenges at the polls

["alkolwicz" <alkolwicz@xxxxxxxxx>]

Paul 

Try Article 9

Al

http://198.187.128.12/colorado/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=fs-main.htm&2.0

PART 2 CHALLENGES TO VOTING 

1-9-201. Right to vote may be challenged.

1-9-202. Challenge to be made by written oath.

1-9-203. Challenge questions asked person intending to vote.

1-9-204. Oath of challenged elector.

1-9-205. Refusal to answer questions or take oath.

1-9-206. Challenges of absentee ballots.

1-9-207. Challenges of ballots cast by mail.

1-9-208. Challenges of provisional ballots.

PART 3 PROVISIONAL BALLOTS 

1-9-301. Provisional ballot voting.

1-9-302. Provisional ballots - available at polling places.

1-9-303. Verification and counting of provisional ballots.

1-9-304. Provisional ballots - absentee voters. (Repealed)

1-9-304.5. Provisional ballot affidavit.

1-9-305. Rules.

1-9-306. Information system.

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-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Walmsley [mailto:paul@xxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 11:46 AM
To: cvv-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Voter challenges at the polls


In the past week or so, several news stories have appeared about
Republican Party plans to challenge certain voters at polling places when
they show up to vote.  According to various GOP officials, the challengers
will be using lists of registered voters with undeliverable mail addresses
or whose names show up on lists of the deceased.  They believe that the
process will reduce vote fraud.  Democrats (and now, two federal district
court judges in Ohio) believe that this process will ultimately
disenfranchise voters by causing slowdowns and the polls and by
intimidating voters.  The Democrats believe that the challenges will be
concentrated in precincts with large numbers of minority voters (since
minority voters have recently tended to vote Democrat.)

Does anyone know if Colorado's election laws and rules permit these sort 
of challenges, and if so, under what conditions?  Cites to C.R.S. and/or 
the election rules would be appreciated if anyone has them handy.  Wonder 
if we'll be seeing these challenges in Denver?

Here are some links to the court rulings mentioned:

from the Southern District of Ohio:
http://www.ohsd.uscourts.gov/pdf/Spencer.65.ord.pdf

from the Northern District of Ohio: 
http://www.ohnd.uscourts.gov/Clerk_s_Office/Notable_Cases/04cv2165_order.pdf

and some news stories:

BBC: New Florida vote scandal feared
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/3956129.stm

BBC: Republican Party response to Florida story
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/3958475.stm

NYT: Big G.O.P. Bid to Challenge Voters at Polls in Key State
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/23/politics/campaign/23vote.html

NYT: Rebuffing G.O.P., 2 Judges Bar Challengers at Polls in Ohio
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/01/politics/campaign/01cnd-ballot.html



- Paul