# Is there going to be any voter suppression/intimidation in the 2010 midterms? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 30, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601 "2010-09-30T14:36:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/21 "2010-10-04T18:50:39Z")
I wonder how many dead people will be voting in the Chicago elections, this year. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/22 "2010-10-04T19:13:29Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I wonder how many dead people will be voting in the Chicago elections, this year. No, you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/23 "2010-10-08T00:16:14Z")
The Republican gains this year will obviously be due to voter suppression and intimidation. “Wall Street fat cats” will stop lighting cigars with hundred dollar bills just long enough to roam the streets, disenfranchising the noble and oppressed for their evil amusement. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/24 "2010-10-08T00:49:35Z")
Well, its their country. We just rent. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/25 "2010-10-08T01:19:59Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Thus the fraud prevention initiative mentioned in the OP took steps beyond mailing the cards. They went to each address and recorded whether or not it was a residence. They had four different steps to make sure the address did not exist. That way they could determine if any of the judge’s concerns were valid and whether mistakes led to the cards return or if it was a genuine attempt at voter fraud. This is obviously a good faith attempt to address concerns about past fraud prevention initiatives. Despite systematically addressing the concerns, they still get accused of voter suppression by this group. It appears to me that this On Wisconsin group is just prejudiced. Is there anything that could be done to prevent voter fraud that this On Wisconsin now would approve of? AGAIN. How about they do it equally for Republican and Democratic registered voters? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/26 "2010-10-10T19:35:55Z")
Check out the new [Voter Suppression Wiki.](http://www.votersuppression.net/) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/27 "2010-10-10T21:50:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Here’s a simple step that could be taken: Do absolutely nothing. The historical record proves that this method is extremely successful, and reduces the incidence of voter fraud to nearly zero. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Bear in mind that they never turned out to be true before, even though the Bush Admin put a **lot** of effort, money and political capital into trying to prove otherwise. I really dont think this line will work anymore: > [@](#): > > As Los Angeles prosecutors investigate potential voter fraud in Bell, several residents have told The Times that city officials pressed them to fill out absentee ballots in a way that election experts say may have violated state law. [From here.](http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/05/local/la-me-election-fraud-bell-20100806) The city officials in Bell used this rigged victory to push through salary increases and other corruption. I do not want challenges to be used inappropriately, but I also do not want legitimate charges waved away. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/28 "2010-10-10T23:36:14Z")
You appear to have overlooked a few words in that quote, such as “investigate”, “potential”, and “may”. Come back when you have evidence. It’s OK, we’ll wait. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/29 "2010-10-14T23:22:04Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Check out the new [Voter Suppression Wiki.](http://www.votersuppression.net/) This link doesn’t work – it says the domain has expired…? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/30 "2010-10-14T23:31:13Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > > > Check out the new [Voter Suppression Wiki.](http://www.votersuppression.net/) > > This link doesn’t work – it says the domain has expired…? It worked when I posted it. I got it from the external links at the bottom of the Wikipedia page on [Voter Suppression.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_suppression) But, I click that and get the same result you did. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/31 "2010-10-14T23:33:12Z")
We must have successfully suppressed it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/32 "2010-10-14T23:43:30Z")
I got a fundraising e-mail from the Alexi Giannoulias campaign (he’s the Democrat running for Obama’s old Senate seat against Republican Mark Kirk). Apparently Kirk was recorded bragging about how many lawyers he has hired to fight supposed _Democratic_ voter intimidation tactics in Chicago and Rockford (which happen to have a lot of black voters). Here is a YouTube Young Turks clip: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GPoxRBVs2P4/hqdefault.jpg "Mark Kirk 'Jigger' Comments") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPoxRBVs2P4) If you are in Chicago or Rockford, I for one would like to know if you see any weird flyers or posters or get any weird phone calls a la Virginia in 2008. I’m not sure what Kirk is up to, if anything (although I think the fuss over the word “jigger” is just silly). If Kirk really thought there was voter intimidation going on, why would he concentrate on the most heavily black parts of the state? ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/33 "2010-10-15T06:06:01Z")
> [@BrainGlutton's Cite](#): > > a. Liberty/Tea Party groups investigate in field. What could POSSIBLY go wrong? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/34 "2010-10-15T14:39:58Z")
Well, probably a lot of them will take it too literally and spend some time poking around fields. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/35 "2010-10-15T16:52:11Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, probably a lot of them will take it too literally and spend some time poking around fields. Marshall Field’s, Kim Fields, the Field Museum, Wrigley Field… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/36 "2010-10-15T19:39:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Marshall Field’s, Kim Fields, the Field Museum, Wrigley Field… Are you suggesting we disenfranchise the Blues Brothers? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/37 "2010-10-15T19:51:02Z")
Well, they _are_ dead. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/38 "2010-10-16T13:54:28Z")
I have a cunning plan. Any individual registered voter can challenge someone’s vote, providing the challenger has not already voted. If it turns out the challenger is mistaken and the voter is legally registered, the challenger surrenders their right to vote in this election, and loses the right to challenge any other voters. This allows challenges if the challenger is confident, and has a punitive element for frivolous challenges. Shouldn’t there be a penalty for attempting to deprive a citizen of the franchise without sufficient evidence? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/39 "2010-10-16T14:55:00Z")
I think there is a lot of misnomer at play here, the natural assumption that the effort is geared to suppressing the individual voter. The goal isn’t so much to stop as to slow. Personally, I think it is a disgrace that voter access should be so tied to the economic status of the citizen. Makes me mad as hell. The voter in an economically deprived district must wait longer than his fellow citizen in a posh suburb, it is far more of a hassle, it requires far more determination. If the Republicans can slow that process down, they will discourage huge numbers of voters who are reliably Dem. As well, if they can circulate rumors that people who have some legal issue (classic example: parking tickets) will be arrested, they can discourage voters. No one imagines that an election can be swayed by picking off a few poorly documented voters, that’s chickenfeed. But if they can make an onerous and difficult process even more difficult, if they can make the poor voter stand for four or five hours to exercise his right to vote, they will win. “Voter fraud” is a slimy, disgusting, underhanded effort to achieve by trickery and cunning what could not be achieved by honest politicking. It results in the more affluent citizen having more of a right to vote than his less advantaged fellow citizen, and it is a disgrace. And there isn’t the slightest doubt who’s greasy fingerprints are on it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601/40 "2010-10-20T00:45:13Z")
You can’t call it fraud, but it certainly is an attempt to suppress voters – a Spanish language TV ad, funded by a conservative group, that specifically says, “Don’t Vote” as a means of protesting the empty promises of Democrats. [Here’s one story about it being pulled](http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/10/19/dont-vote-ads-aimed-at-latinos-are-pulled-in-nevada/?mod=google_news_blog) after Univision refused to run it. But it has been run. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-going-to-be-any-voter-suppression-intimidation-in-the-2010-midterms/555601.md?page=3)