ASsman
10-19-2004, 07:11 PM
As early voting for the presidential election begins in Florida, we take a look at intimidation and suppression of voters in Florida and around the country. [includes rush transcript] Early voting for the presidential election began in Florida on Monday as activists urged people to opt for early ballots to avoid a repeat of the 2000 election. Black and elderly voters in particular lined up to cast ballots two weeks before Nov. 2nd.
Computer problems and long lines soon emerged in Florida - one of 32 states where voters are allowed to make their choice before Election Day.
Across the country, independent poll watching groups are urging voters to take advantage of early voting to avoid problems.
More than two dozen states offer "no excuse" early voting by either mail or in person, meaning voters do not have to give a reason. Some states, such as Nevada, Iowa and West Virginia, have already begun. Texas, Arkansas and Colorado also started on Monday.
Today we take a look at how voters in states across the country have been suppressed, harrassed and intimidated in this presidential election.
Some examples include:
# This summer, Michigan state Rep. John Pappageorge (R) was quoted in the Detroit Free Press as saying, "If we do not suppress the Detroit vote, we're going to have a tough time in this election." African Americans comprise 83 percent of Detroit's population.
# In South Dakota's June 2004 primary, Native American voters were prevented from voting after they were challenged to provide photo IDs, which they were not required to present under state or federal law.
# In Kentucky in July 2004, black Republican officials joined to ask their State GOP party chairman to renounce plans to place "vote challengers" in African-American precincts during the coming elections.
# Earlier this year in Texas, a local district attorney claimed that students at a majority black college were not eligible to vote in the county where the school is located. It happened in Waller County - the same county where 26 years earlier, a federal court order was required to prevent discrimination against the students.
RUSH TRANSCRIPT
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/10/19/1423215
Computer problems and long lines soon emerged in Florida - one of 32 states where voters are allowed to make their choice before Election Day.
Across the country, independent poll watching groups are urging voters to take advantage of early voting to avoid problems.
More than two dozen states offer "no excuse" early voting by either mail or in person, meaning voters do not have to give a reason. Some states, such as Nevada, Iowa and West Virginia, have already begun. Texas, Arkansas and Colorado also started on Monday.
Today we take a look at how voters in states across the country have been suppressed, harrassed and intimidated in this presidential election.
Some examples include:
# This summer, Michigan state Rep. John Pappageorge (R) was quoted in the Detroit Free Press as saying, "If we do not suppress the Detroit vote, we're going to have a tough time in this election." African Americans comprise 83 percent of Detroit's population.
# In South Dakota's June 2004 primary, Native American voters were prevented from voting after they were challenged to provide photo IDs, which they were not required to present under state or federal law.
# In Kentucky in July 2004, black Republican officials joined to ask their State GOP party chairman to renounce plans to place "vote challengers" in African-American precincts during the coming elections.
# Earlier this year in Texas, a local district attorney claimed that students at a majority black college were not eligible to vote in the county where the school is located. It happened in Waller County - the same county where 26 years earlier, a federal court order was required to prevent discrimination against the students.
RUSH TRANSCRIPT
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/10/19/1423215