Caging the vote? RNC is recruiting private investigators for vote caging in NM

[Snazzy]

Source: New Mexico Independent

Caging the vote?
Republican National Committee is recruiting private investigators for vote caging in N.M.

By Gwyneth Doland 11/3/08 2:11 PM

ALBUQUERQUE–A local private investigator says he was contacted by a man recruiting on behalf of the Republican National Committee, looking for private investigators to advise poll challengers on election day. The investigator, David O’Niell, says he’s worried that RNC may be using private investigators to help with so-called vote caging, a method of vote suppression.

Vote caging is a technique involving one person, group or political party that uses returned mail, home foreclosure lists, Social Security databases or other methods to identify groups of voters and prevent them from voting.

The recruiter is Todd Stefan from SETEC Investigations, a California security company. “I was told to see if there were some individuals, people with investigative experience, IT experience… to advise attorneys and make sure that everything goes smoothly,” Stefan told the Independent in a phone interview Friday.

Stefan declined to say whether he was recruiting on behalf of RNC, saying, “I don’t fully know who’s involved. This is something that, I’ll be honest, I’m a little bit skittish about.” Stefan then said he knew that there was concern in New Mexico that private investigators were being used in election issues.


Read more: http://newmexicoindependent.com/7594/caging-the-vote

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And from TPM:

More Use Of P.I.s By GOP In New Mexico?
By Zachary Roth - November 3, 2008, 5:00PM
Is the Republican National Committee, too, turning to private investigators to help make it harder to vote in New Mexico?

David O'Niell, a P.I in the state, has told the New Mexico Independent that he was contacted by Todd Stefan of SETEC investigations, who told O'Niell he was recruiting P.I.s to advise poll challengers on election day, and was working on behalf of the Republican National Committee.

Stefan declined to confirm to the Independent that he was working for the RNC, but said: "I was told to see if there were some individuals, people with investigative experience, IT experience... to advise attorneys and make sure that everything goes smoothly."

Voting- and civil-rights groups last week filed suit against the New Mexico GOP and Pat Rogers, a lawyer associated with the party, after the Independent and TPMmuckraker reported that Rogers had hired a private investigator who questioned several Hispanics in Albuquerque about their right to vote.

No evidence has yet emerged tying the national GOP to that alleged scheme.

In Wisconsin, the Republican Attorney General has called for law enforcement agents to serve as poll-watchers.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/more_use_of_pis_by_gop_in_new.php

Restraining Order For NM GOP Lawyer?
By Zachary Roth - November 3, 2008, 2:36PM
A hearing is scheduled for this afternoon in the suit filed last week by MALDEF against New Mexico GOP lawyer Pat Rogers. The suit, triggered by reporting from TPMmuckraker and others, alleges that Rogers hired a private investigator, Al Romero, to intimidate Hispanics in Albuquerque about their right to vote. Romero is also named as a defendant.

MALDEF, which is bringing the suit on behalf of two of the voters in question, wants an injunction blocking Rogers from conducting further alleged intimidation of the plaintiffs, and from challenging the plaintiffs' right to vote.

The hearing will occur at 3pm EST today, before U.S. District Court Judge Martha Vázquez in Albuquerque. We'll keep you posted on what happens.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/restraining_order_for_nm_gop_l.php

Earlier:

Did New Mexico GOP Lawyer Hire P.I. To Intimidate Minority Voters?
By Zachary Roth - October 24, 2008, 9:20AM

Minority voters in New Mexico report to TPMmuckraker that a private investigator working with Republican party lawyer Pat Rogers has appeared in person at the homes of their family members, intimidating and confusing them about their right to vote in the general election.

Earlier this week, we reported that Rogers -- a lawyer and involved with a new effort to gin up concerns about the issue. Last week the state party falsely claimed that 28 people had voted fraudulently in a local Democratic primary race in June. Rogers, described in an Associated Press report on the allegations as "an attorney who advises the state GOP," told the news wire that the party planned to turn the suspect forms over to law enforcement authorities.

....

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/is_new_mexico_gop_lawyer_hirin.php

[Taverner]

1. This has to be brought to court, no matter who wins

Otherwise there will never be another win

[Hawkeye-X]

2. NM State Police and its agency should suspend ALL PI license for one day

tomorrow, and they get arrested, and was caught fucking with the voting process, they should be be beheaded and all monies goes to the victims of caging.

[EverHopeful]

3. Ok, since protesters

can be charged with "Conspiracy to Riot in Furtherance of Terrorism"

www.twincities.indymedia.org/2008/sep/breaking-rnc-8-charged-conspiracy-riot-furtherance-terrorism

can we call voter suppression what it is, treason in furtherance of tyranny, and (after a tribunal, of course) lock them all up?

[TygrBright]

4. Tacky barstids. TOO LATE! We're already blue, suckers.

Three cheers for early voting!!

defiantly,
Bright

[grannylib]

5. In Minnesota it's illegal to have challengers from other states at the polls.

There can be one EACH from the DFL, rePigliCons, and Independents at each location. But they must be Minnesota residents.
On edit: Also, challengers must have personal, first-hand knowledge of impropriety to be able to challenge. They cannot just say, "That guy looks too young to vote," it has to be, "I have information specifically about that person being underage" and they have to make the challenge in writing to an election official; they cannot challenge voters directly.

[progressivebydesign]

6. So it will be New Mexico this time??? Is that where they'll make their move? n/t