Feingold urges AG to reconsider Election Day poll watch

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U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, the Middleton Democrat whose name has long been associated with campaign finance reform, clean elections and ethics-in-government initiatives (often in association with Republican presidential candidate John McCain), is asking Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to reconsider his plan to send prosecutors and special agents from the Division of Criminal Investigation to polling places around the state on Election Day.

Van Hollen and his aides say they are simply trying to prevent voter fraud.

But Feingold is concerned that the presence of the prosecutors and agents could intimidate legitimate voters.

The senator has informed Van Hollen that he is concerned the attorney general's move -- which has drawn criticism from Gov. Jim Doyle, himself a former attorney general, and voting rights advocates -- could effectively discourage legitimate voters from attempting to cast ballots.

Here is Feingold's letter to Van Hollen:

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/election/312204