Delaware County Democrats are claiming that Republicans are intimidating voters with tables that are set up outside polling places. Republican campaign workers are manning the tables and are asking for voters' names and party affiliation.
"The Republican are acting like it's an official check in sheet," said Democratic strategist Tom Hickey. "You walk up and they say 'What's your name?' But it's not an official place."
Hickey said officers from the Delaware County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to three sites in Ridley Township to dismantle tables. The sheriff's department did not answer calls requesting confirmation and comment.
Hickey expects the officers will be making several more appearances through the county.
"We'll probably find a lot more in Upper Darby," Hickey said.
He said Republicans set up similar tables in 2004.
"We called it voter intimidation then," Hickey said.
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people that try to intimidate voters on either side are the scum of the earth— Bender- I voted in Thornbury, Delco and felt extremely intimidated by the contingent of Cheyney University and Glen Mills School students ringing my polling place (inside and around the booths) and watching every move. Is this to Obama get out the vote intimidation tactics? Also, both parties were electioneering at the entrance.. in most states there is a limit on distance from polling place that anyone can electioneer.— gboyet
- This is how your low rent garden variety scumbag radical republican operates. They know no boundaries and should be put down like the dogs they are.— phillypurge.com
- Delco is so corrupt -— hugh
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- You felt intimidated by "Cheyney University and Glen Mills School students"? Why would you feel intimidated by them? Are you afraid of black people? WTF?— jpb
- This sounds like a very, vey fake controversey. At my place, the Obama rep had a table asking for people to see her for the dem sample ballot. She was very nice and did nothing wrong. The "controversey" described above seems to be about getting attention and trying to stir the pot with a bogus story.— CD75
- Yes because the Black Panthers that are outside a polling place in Philly are not intimidating at all. It's all strictly Republicans who intimidate. Grow up people, and vote for whoever you want to vote for regardless of who is outside the polling place. Geez.— Blah202
- That's intimidation, asking someone a question? Just walk away. What a bunch of pansies.— 23
- i voted in Delaware county but did not see any of this. It sounds a little confusing, but voter intimidation? i wouldn't go that far.— mogwaimogwai
- Yeah right. The Republican scums will stoop to any level to try and eek out some votes. They are desperate like cockroaches trying to escape a burning house!— phillypurge.com
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- Delco..... Smirk. While i do not regret growing up there i can hoenstly say i will never ever move back there. .. Boy do i dread ever going back there.. You know from the time i was younger i was told NO MATTER WHAT register republican because if for some reason your brought into court, or are trying to get something done in teh community delco has been known to let you slip through the cracks... amazing consider the average income is about40k per year not counting the yuppies that live in the northern sections fo drexel hill or havertown.— Zoinkz
- Tierney, your paper is so biased. It is sad that Philly.com reports this fake controversey. The real news is the Black Panther story and this one from the AP: "The Philadelphia district attorney's office says it has restored Republican election observers who were kicked out of polling places. Spokeswoman Cathie Abookire said Tuesday that the partisan disputes were compounded by a misunderstanding about the rules that govern certified election observers. The McCain-Palin campaign complained of intimidation by Democratic election officials who were kicking Republican officials out of polling places. Abookire said the GOP observers were allowed to go back in after a district attorney's team arrived."— CD75
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Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
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