Delaware County Democrats claim intimidation at some polls
Republicans checking in voters outside polling places have Delco Democrats crying 'foul.'
Delaware County Democrats claim intimidation at some polls
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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Just punch them. That's how we handle "intimidation" in Philly.— NeverSunnyInPhiladelphia- Both republican and democratic committee people are working outside the polls because it is just so busy inside. This morning in Montco I heard the judge of elections tell a person with a poll watchers certificte that they were slowing down the process and to sit outside and gather their information. They were crossing off names from the voters list. What is intimidating about that? Both sides do it.— Phillylax
- Black Panthers at polling centers, court-appointed Republican poll watchers being thrown out of polling places despite court orders to the contrary, and this silly article makes the front page of the website. What a joke.— jfar86
- oh get over it. i grew up in philly and live in media now. its 1000 times better. parts of my old neighborhood look like a 3rd world country now. i'll take this over the union thugs and race hustlers of philadelphia.— beeron
- they should ban all these people from outside polling areas, or make them stand across the street. They could leave a pile of party candidate sheets outside. People come to the poll knowing who they will vote for and the last minute in your face stuff doesn't help.— bung
- I'm working the polls in western Delco and everyone is excited but there is no intimidation. As for glen mills kids, they are more polite than the penncrest or wc east kids. i'm sorry that some black people scared you gboyet but they have a right ot be there and learn about the process.— natedog
Comment removed.- gboyet: Blacks were given the right to vote in 1965. If you were intimidated by their exercising their constitutional right then maybe you have the issue. I have been volunteering on the Cheyney Campus the past few weeks and found the students to be friendly and respectful. They are excited to participate in an historical election!— natedog
- The Drudge report has had on it's website since noon that Republicans have been thrown out of polling places in parts of Phila, it is on townhall.com. Yet the only thing I see here in this paper, over and over, what the big bad Republicans are up to and half of the allegations can't even be substantiated.— ronre
- Re: CU and GM students were not there voting. Whether they voted or not I cannot say. To clarify they were sitting on chairs on the perimeter of where the booths are. What made me uncomfortable is the proximity of these people to the booths, just "hangin out". I would feel same no matter who was there and I voted for Obama.— gboyet
- Natedog: Blacks were given the right to vote (at least land owning males) during the initial period after the Civil War. It is the old democratic party that lasted up through the early sixties that created the repressive laws and customs (e.g., Jim Crow) that disenfranchised blacks and created the need for the voting rights act. So if you are going to cite history, at least get it and your dates correct. And certainly don't imply that it has been a 150 plus year atttempt by the republicans to keep blacks disenfranchised. There is enough blame for this to go around.— gboyet
- gboyet-if you felt dicomfort by the proximity of non-voters to the polling area you should have spoken to the judge of elections at the site. there is to be separation between voters and by-standers which we maintained at the western delco site where i worked. there was no mention in my post concerning republican bias against blacks. since you're so fond of quoting history, then you're no doubt aware of the republican party's formation which was to foster the abolition of slavery. to return to your polling issue..would your discomfort level been as high if the on-lookers had been polo wearing youths reeking of axe body spray? i think its great that the gm/cu kids are involved in the process. Society should do everything possible to keep college students involved regardless of their ethnicity.— natedog
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