I just read this story, which refers to people going to polling places for the express purpose of challenging voters. If these people have no official standing, how can they “challenge” a voter? Are they allowed to demand to see ID? I don’t believe anyone but an officer of the law can do that, but I don’t doubt someone else might try. Anyway, what’s the straight dope on these characters?
Prepare yourself for a chorus of “Well, here’s how it’s done in MY state…”
Well, here’s how it’s done in MY state. Direct from the Pollworker’s Manual, which I have open in Acrobat and am drilling myself in today:
Any voter may be challenged right at the poll site. Anyone – Inspectors, poll watchers, voters – may challenge a voter at the poll site.
Some common reasons for being challenged are:
• it is believed that the voter no longer lives at the address given at time of registration
• the voter’s current signature and signature in poll book seem not to match,
When a voter is challenged:
- Explain to the voter that s/he has been challenged.
- Give the voter a copy of the challenge oath. Enter ED/AD on top of page.
- Ask the voter to read the oath. Inform the voter that s/he may vote on the machine only if s/he signs the challenge oath.
- The voter may vote on the machine after signing the oath.
- Complete the voter record indicating that the voter was challenged; place the signed oaths in the Transport Bag.
THE OATH
You do swear (or affirm) that you are eighteen years of age, that you are a citizen of the United States and that you have been a resident of this state, and of the City of New York for thirty days next preceding this election, that you still reside at the same address from which you have been duly registered in this election district, that you have not voted at this election, and that you do not know of any reason why you are not qualified to vote at this election. You do further declare that you are aware that it is a crime to make any false
statement. That all the statements you have made to the board have been true and that you understand that a false statement is perjury and you will be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Frankly, I’ve never ever seen a challenge made and I’ve never had to do this (there was one signature I asked about, but the poor young guy had had a stroke). The pollwatchers they mentioned are registered with the electoral board and have rules of behavoir they have to go by, and I don’t know why another voter would do it, but legally they can.
Why and when it was put on the books I don’t know. Obviously it was meant to do away with Tammany-style shenanigans.
Well, apparently this thread provides at least a partial answer. Challenging a voter seems to me to a risky business, but I am a grouchy old guy.