Sherry Chandler

The integrity of the vote

For those of my friends on the right and the left who are concerned about the integrity of the vote, I suggest that you listen to last night’s Fresh Air broadcast with Jonah Goldman of the National Campaign for Fair Elections, which is an arm of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Goldman is reassuring about the effects of ACORN (though he doesn’t particularly approve of their efforts either, because they create headaches for an already overworked registration system), suggests that both sides may be using scare and suppression tactics, and offers some interesting solutions for preventing this sort of registration anxiety in future, including the suggestion that we have a required national voter registration similar to the selective service registration.

Because I am a card-carrying member, I should also point out that the ACLU has launched a Voter Empowerment Program to inform voters of their rights at the polls. For Kentucky specific information, contact:

ACLU of Kentucky
Executive Director: Michael Aldridge
315 Guthrie Street, Suite 300
Louisville, KY 40202-3820
Phone: 502-581-1181
Fax: 502-589-9687
Email: info@aclu-ky.org

Meanwhile, Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson suggests that voters be aware of certain requirements before they go to the polls (emphasis mine):

In addition, Grayson reminded voters that no Kentuckian should be prevented from voting in the upcoming election due to his or her work schedule, if he or she requests leave prior to the day in which he or she will cast his or her vote. The Kentucky Constitution provides �that all employers shall allow employees, under reasonable regulations, at least four hours on election days, in which to cast their votes.�

…

Grayson also encouraged voters to make note of Kentucky�s identification requirements at the polls. Voters must produce identification or be known by a precinct officer prior to voting. Types of ID include: personal acquaintance of precinct officer, driver�s license, social security card, credit card, or another form of ID containing both picture and signature.

When voters head to the polls on Election Day, they will also be governed by electioneering laws that prohibits electioneering within 300 feet of the polling location. Bumper stickers on cars of voters at a polling location are an exception to the electioneering prohibition. Cars may not be left near polling locations all day with the intent of advocating for a particular candidate. In addition, an Office of the Attorney General Opinion suggests that wearing personal items such as a campaign t-shirt, hat, or button is protected by the 1st amendment and therefore is an exception to the electioneering ban. Grayson stressed that voters will not be turned away from voting for wearing campaign materials to the polls, but noted that the best advice is to simply �wear those items outside of the precinct or cover them up when you go vote.�

Grayson also noted that it is illegal to record the identity of voters or to intimidate voters. As such, the use of recording devices, including cameras and cell phones, are prohibited from the polling place.

Read this entire press release here.

Grayson, who expects a 65% to 75% turnout in Kentucky, has also launched an Election Rumor Control site so Kentucky voters can get the “true facts.”

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Updated: Another idea for monitoring the vote from Causewired.