Bullies at the Voting Both

“Bullies at the Voting Booth”

Voting is the most widespread form of active political participation among Americans, yet voter turnout is significantly lower n the United States than in many democratic nations. Many analysts have varying opinions as to why this is, and in an article written just before the presidential elections in 2004 discusses several tactics that supporters of the republican party used in order to allegedly discriminate against certain voters in swing states that could be decided either democrat or republican come election day.

Throughout most of the Southwest many Republican-backed groups pushed legislation that would require proof of citizenship before individuals could vote, which would target mostly Hispanic voters. Many members of these action groups showed up during the September 7th primaries to “check the polls to see if illegal aliens were voting.”

Poll watchers are defined as people appointed to observe an election on the behalf of a candidate, political party, or political committees. In several states the presence of poll watchers to be used this election is massive, which can be very intimidating according to John Greenbaum, director of the Voting Rights Project in Michigan as they “can confront voters with questions like, “What’s your name? or “What are you doing here”