Cleveland Reportback

In Cleveland we were impressed with the huge, coordinated efforts of the Election Protection Coalition. We visited the Cleveland headquarters and followed election protection volunteers to polling sites in East Cleveland, near Shaker Heights. <!--break--> <img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/3098_Voter_Protection.jpg"><br> The office was buzzing with volunteers from all over the U.S. including a large contingent from Howard University, a busload from New Haven and we just missed some Rochester folks. There were friendly press people at the Coalition office, who were happy to brief us and connect us with a group heading out to the polls. <P><P> While we went to Ohio expecting the possibility of chaos and contention at the polls, it appears that the protection workers may have been overwhelmingly successful at preventing mass interventions by Republican poll challengers (approximately 3600 had reportedly signed up to be inside Ohio polling locations, but in most places we heard about they did not show up, or they lurked around in and around the polling places watching or taking notes). We wonder why the apparent change in approach by Republicans, who had fought with up to the last minute legal battles, vowing to challenge voters in the polls. <P><P> While there were several reports of irregularities, and extraordinary lines in some other Cleveland locales, the main observation that we found notable was the high level of provisional ballots that were being used. We do not know how many of those will be eventually counted, but it seems likely to be an area that will be contested, as we now see that Ohio is shaping up to be this eletion's Florida. People were forced to use provisional ballots when their names were missing from the voter list and when they had not received their absentee ballots by mail and then appeared for voting in person, among other reasons. My impression from talking with some law student volunteers is that poll workers may have been quick to have voters use provisional ballots where further problem solving on the spot may have resulted in using a regular ballot. In general, it seems that the Bush Administration's new voting legislation, Help America Vote, is confusing and varied in its implementation.

<p>In Cleveland we were impressed with the huge, coordinated efforts of the<br /> Election Protection Coalition. We visited the Cleveland headquarters and<br /> followed election protection volunteers to polling sites in East Cleveland,<br /> near Shaker Heights.</p> <!--break--><p><img class="dada-image-center" src="http://rochester.indymedia.org/sites/default/files/migrate_dada/3098_Voter_Protection.jpg" /><br /><br /> The office was buzzing with volunteers from all over<br /> the U.S. including a large contingent from Howard University, a busload from<br /> New Haven and we just missed some Rochester folks. There were friendly<br /> press people at the Coalition office, who were happy to brief us and connect<br /> us with a group heading out to the polls.<br /> </p><p></p><p><br /> While we went to Ohio expecting the possibility of chaos and contention at<br /> the polls, it appears that the protection workers may have been<br /> overwhelmingly successful at preventing mass interventions by Republican<br /> poll challengers (approximately 3600 had reportedly signed up to be inside<br /> Ohio polling locations, but in most places we heard about they did not show<br /> up, or they lurked around in and around the polling places watching or<br /> taking notes). We wonder why the apparent change in approach by Republicans,<br /> who had fought with up to the last minute legal battles, vowing to challenge<br /> voters in the polls.<br /> </p><p></p><p><br /> While there were several reports of irregularities, and extraordinary lines<br /> in some other Cleveland locales, the main observation that we found notable<br /> was the high level of provisional ballots that were being used. We do not<br /> know how many of those will be eventually counted, but it seems likely to be<br /> an area that will be contested, as we now see that Ohio is shaping up to be<br /> this eletion's Florida. People were forced to use provisional ballots when<br /> their names were missing from the voter list and when they had not received<br /> their absentee ballots by mail and then appeared for voting in person, among<br /> other reasons. My impression from talking with some law student volunteers<br /> is that poll workers may have been quick to have voters use provisional<br /> ballots where further problem solving on the spot may have resulted in using<br /> a regular ballot. In general, it seems that the Bush Administration's new<br /> voting legislation, Help America Vote, is confusing and varied in its<br /> implementation.</p>