MJS: GOP demands IDs of 37,000 in city - isn't this blackmail?

[T Roosevelt]

Courtesy of Josh Marshall:

GOP demands IDs of 37,000 in city

<snip>

Citing a new list of more than 37,000 questionable addresses, the state Republican Party demanded Saturday that Milwaukee city officials require identification from all of those voters Tuesday.

If the city doesn't, the party says it is prepared to have volunteers challenge each individual - including thousands who might be missing an apartment number on their registration - at the polls.

The move, which dramatically escalates the party's claims of bad addresses and potential fraud, was condemned by Democrats as a last-minute effort to suppress turnout in the city by creating long delays at the polls.

<snip>

[ithacan]

1. the repubs KNOW they are losers

they KNOW that they've been rejected by the majority in this country, that they are headed for a catastrophic defeat.

and so, brownshirts that they are, this is the only hope they have.

to PREVENT people from voting, to undermine the process.

Boy, they'd fit right in in pretty much any authoritarian dictatorship...

[cubsfan forever]

2. You are so right!

The ONLY hope they have is to suppress the vote and STEAL like they did in 2000. FASCISTS!

Professor 2

[kayell]

6. And to rig the Gallup and otherpolls so most people will sigh, and accept.

[kayell]

3. And of course, who is most likely to live in an apartment?

Why of course, the young, and lower income who can't afford a mortgage. And urban people who vote dem. Combine this with the move to put all vote suppression investigations in Asscrofts hands ONLY, and I can not imagine why this country is not totally inflamed.

Uh, of course I can imagine - because most people don't have a clue what is going on, thanks to our useless media.

[Confident]

4. Depends on the WI voter reg law...

if law requires people to produce ID, like it or not, this will work; if not, it won't - in the latter case (ie, no requests for ID allowed), then local Dems need to make sure these challenges do NOT occur at the polls on Tuesday

[jackofhearts]

5. In my dream the 37,000

Turn on the poll watchers and kick their asses out of the polling office and dare anyone to stop them from excercizing their right to vote fairly and legitimately. These fascists are going to start a civil war if they are not careful...actually, I am to the point where I think it is the only answer to what is happening to America. Somethings got to give...

[TexasSissy]

7. Grrrr. But lesson learned: Take I.D. to the polls! If possible,

take registration card, too! Take a recent utility bill!

It may be unethical to challenge like this, en masse (and I hope we see laws in the future to prevent this), but if it's currently legal, what the heck can we do? But best to be prepared, anyway, and TAKE I.D. with you to the polls. Don't let someone interfere with your right to vote!

[Rainbowreflect]

10. Isn't anyone who challenges a voter without proof legally liable?

[TexasSissy]

18. Don't know. I'd never heard of this before a few days ago.

[Fla Dem]

8. I've always been asked for ID at the polls. Isn't that required ? n/t

[sybylla]

11. Not exactly in Wisconsin

Current law allows any of the following:

-- Wisconsin driver's license or Wisconsin state ID card

-- Any other other official ID card or license issued by a Wisconsin
state agency *or by an employer*, not including a business card

-- College student ID or student fee card

-- Credit card or credit plate

-- Library card

-- Check-cashing or courtesy card, issued by a merchant

-- Real estate tax bill or receipt, dated within one year before
Election Day

-- Residential lease, which is effective for a period that includes
Election Day

-- A utility bill for gas, electric or telephone service, dated within
90 days before Election Day

-- Someone who is registered in your town who can vouch for your place
of residence. This person must sign your registration form, and must provide their own proof of residence.

This will all be changed in 2005 by HAVA, requiring photo ID for all registering voters and, if I have heard correctly, a photo ID to vote.

[wellstone dem]

16. This is the motor voter rules

this is what you are required to bring to register at the polls. Minnesota has motor voter also, I've never been required to produce an id, except for the first time when I registered at the polls.

I thought the law required that those who challenge have to prove you shouldn't be voting, not that you have to prove you should.

[C_U_L8R]

9. History could always repeat itself

If these facists want to keep pushing it - perhaps they could meet the same fate as their historical role models. Hanging upside down by their ankles in a public square.

I don't know about anyone else here, but my patience is growing thin with these f*ckers. Enough evangelical religious extremism, enough corporate cronyism, enough social intolerence, enough media manipulation, enough false patriotism, enough global militarism, enough environmental pillaging, enough, enough enough !! We need to take back our democracy from these sh*theads. We need to shame them back into their caves.

I don't know where to start.... but short of civil war, a vote for JFK seems the wisest choice.
He will be a great leader who will not shrink from the real issues at hand.

[RevCheesehead]

12. I thought this issue was already settled via Jim Doyle.

The repugs can fight all they want, they aren't getting Wisconsin!

[RevCheesehead]

13. Oh, and here's the hypocrisy:

"Asked why the party was not asking other communities to take the same voluntary precautions and computer check their lists before Tuesday, Graber said the Milwaukee voter list is a "mess" and cause for great alarm.

"You mean why aren't we doing this in Wausau?" he said. "We certainly could."

After a pause, he added: "And perhaps should."

*********

Maybe they should look at Waukesha and the Fox Valley, too.

[depakid]

14. Sounds like someone's going to get hurt.

Maybe a lot of people. That's not good news at all.

Where are the international observers?

[OneMoreDemocrat]

17. I have to agree with your statement.........

I don't think these Republicans realize how angry and ready for this fight we are....I have a feeling they are going to be quite surprised when we refuse to lay down and go quietly.

Personally, I am hoping that some asshole makes an attempt to challenge my voting rights, but I'm sure I won't be that lucky.

[Confident]

15. What are ID requirements in other battleground states....

does anyone have a list? - if all our voters go to the pools prepared, none of the GOP challenges will succeed - if we can get a list we should post it and make sure all GOTV personnel have their local rules - it's really inexcusable to lose votes due to a failure to prepare

[maine_raptor]

19. I think I smell a backfired here.

Think about this:

Repug college kid goes to vote, gets hassled, closes curtain, votes Kerry, figuring Bush is sho-in anyways (thought planted thanks to daily Rush listening?).

Now this also posits a possible "dirty trick" if hasseled by Repugs:

Simply say, "But I really, really do want to vote for Bush."

Wonder if that will get you through and into the booth faster?

A thought.

[rullery]

20. I sure wish we could direct these volunteer challengers

to go to primarily Republican precincts in the suburbs, to do their challenging and slow down the voting lines. Anyone have an idea how to get those precinct addresses into their hands?

[woo me with science]

21. Oh give me a break....

Showing ID SHOULD be required at the polls.

I don't get all this hysteria at all. How else do you establish that someone is eligible to vote. Showing an ID is reasonable to prevent fraud on BOTH SIDES.

[LTR]

22. The city already cards people

I live in Milwaukee County, and I have voted a few times. They ask for a picture ID and/or utility bill. And they cross your name off a list of registered voters for that precinct.

Wherever you vote, bring either a drivers license or official state ID. For added protection, bring a gas, electric or phone bill with your name and current address on it.

I really don't know why every state doesn't just do the Motor Voter thing, where you are automatically registered upon getting a DL or state ID. What ever happened to that?