Voter arrested for...well, trying to vote

The cheating by right-wing election officials seems to be in full bloom even months before the November election.

Back in February, when Missouri had its presidential primary, a voter in Independence, Missouri, tried to vote. That's why we call them voters, you see. It's because they vote. At least they try to.

The voter carried a proper ID issued by the election board, in keeping with Missouri law. It might not have been enough identification to please extremists who are always crying about vote fraud where none exists, but it was legally valid. Missouri had passed a much more rigid voter ID law, but it was ruled unconstitutional before that election.

When the voter presented his ID - which was not his driver's license, but was legally valid - the election judge thundered, "Look! Show me your driver's license or you don't vote!"

In response to the election judge's unlawful attempt to limit voting only to those who can afford a car, the voter did eventually present his license - but warned the judge he was filing a complaint with the election board over this illegal intimidation.

When asked about the complaint months later, the election board simply claimed the complaint had been "lost."

Yesterday, when Missouri had primaries for other offices, the saga of right-wing intimidation continued. The voter had previously spoken with an election board member, who had assured him that driver's licenses weren't necessary to vote, and that voters may instead present another official ID, utility bill, or bank statement. The voter was advised to call the election board if the judges didn't let him vote.

When he tried voting yesterday, the judges were again hostile - even when the voter showed them the list of voter ID requirements from the Missouri Secretary of State's website. He politely invited one of the judges to call the election board.

Soon the voter was confronted by the same election judge who had caused trouble back in February. The judge gave the voter a chest bump like that of a baseball team manager fighting with an umpire.

As the voter tried calling the election board on a cell phone, the cops arrived. Two officers grabbed the voter and his son and escorted them outside. Four other cops arrived in their cruisers.

The police threatened to arrest the voter and his son for trying to vote. When the voter failed to leave, he was cuffed and stuffed (as Rosco would say). He was taken to jail and released hours later. The popo threatened to file 6 counts of disorderly conduct because there were 6 election judges.

After being released, the voter went to the election board's office. An election board member offered to let him cast his ballot there - but how would he know if his vote even counted? If he had voted back at the precinct like he attempted to do in the first place, election officials wouldn't know which vote was his to throw away.

So let's sum up yesterday's events: A voter tried voting, the election judges argued with him about an ID that was perfectly legit, and the voter was arrested.

And I can guarantee you this is the sort of bullshit we have to look forward to in November. I think this year is going to make the stiff voting machine buttons, lost ballots, and right-wingers' illegal electioneering from 2004 look like nothing in comparison. You know why? Because they were allowed to get away with so much last time.

(Source: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/6/9488/29311/996/563441)