As Election Nears, Dirty Tricks Grow More Common

As the election nears, examples of political dirty tricks are emerging with greater frequency.

On Tuesday, the Virginia Pilot reported that a phony Board of Elections flier was circulating the state "advising Republicans to vote on Nov. 4 and Democrats on Nov. 5." Voting, of course, is on the 4th only, creating fear among neutral observers and the Obama campaign that people were simply going to miss the opportunity to go to the polls.

Earlier this month, meanwhile, an anonymous flier was circulating in predominantly African-American neighborhoods in Philadelphia telling voters they could be arrested at the polls if they show up to vote with outstanding arrest warrants or unpaid parking tickets. This is also untrue.

Dirty tricks and phony fliers represent the dark underside of nearly every election. And certainly, when it comes to the current contest, these tactics started long ago. Last March, as Time Magazine noted, a letter was being sent around Colorado, warning that out-of-state students could not register if their parents claimed them as dependents in another state." One of the more common falsities making its way through email chains has warned voters in some states (updated below) that they will be turned away from the polls if they wore paraphernalia demonstrating their support for one particular candidate.

Since these antics are becoming more and more common we encourage readers to send in tips or episodes they have witnessed to the Huffington Post.

UPDATE: Several readers have pointed out that, in fact, several states do prohibit passive electioneering (buttons, t-shirts, etc.) in polling places. In Texas, for example, the law is as follows:

[A] person may not wear a badge, insignia, emblem, or other similar communicative device relating to a candidate, measure, or political party appearing on the ballot, or to the conduct of the election, in the polling place or within 100 feet of any outside door through which a voter may enter the building in which the polling place is located.

Comments

[kevingiampa]

Any chance of McCain having any shred of credibility after he loses this election is out the freakin' window. After he loses, I hope the conservatives drive him from the Republican caucus, I hope Democrats remind him daily of his hypocrisy, I hope Arizona voters are as embarrassed as they should be and send him home next Senate election. I'm not accepting any of the thousand apologies he'll owe and probably give to the country after the disgusting campaign he's chosen tot run.

[old lady]

JSM will try to preserve his cred by turning his Vitriole on Palin.
1. I should have told them what Plumbers did to Nixon
2. They made me do it...I didn't want to pick her.. my real choice was LIEberman or Ridgid
3. It was all the designer clothes they put on her... I looked like a dud standing next to that wardrobe
4.. Dude Tom drove the bus like it was a Skidoo..co­uild't stay on the road.
5; LIEberman REALLY was a Democrat
5. Blah, Blah,Blah

[huff-n-puff-post]

Any chance Obama will lose any credibility after he loses?
I thought not

[canuck4barack]

What the U.S. needs right now, it seems, is the Carter Center to monitor the election. Unfortunately, the Carter Center can't be involved because of partiality in a U.S. election. There must be some other international organization that could monitor it. On second thought, I don't think there is a country on the entire planet that is impartial when it comes to this election.

http://www.economist.com/Vote2008/

[TenPhil]

I don't see why the OECD can't monitor elections in the US, it is not unusual that they have people monitoring elections.

[plooger]

Does anybody keep track of all this activity? I have to wonder to what degree one party could be viewed as more responsible than the other.

[BillCarson]

>Does anybody keep track of all this activity?
Yes. Bradblog has been doing this for some years now: http://www.bradblog.com/

>I have to wonder to what degree one party could be viewed as more responsible than the other.

Let's see. A flier says that republicans vote Tuesday, and Democrats vote Wednesday. I wonder who that would favor?

[BrickSykes]

Everybody see this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q9NSVUu8nk

Yes, it is a government official demonstrating what a voter can do when the touch screen device ''Flips" a vote while they're trying to vote! Please, Please Watch this Video! You'll see that these "Electronic Touch Screen" Voting Machines were invented and adopted for election use simply because they can be programmed to be impossibly depended upon in regular use, and easily manipulated to read out and produce results that are in direct conflict with the voter's selections!!

These machines are the device through which the Republicans Steal Elections! My state abandoned them after the loss of thousands of ballots in 2000 and 2004!

The Federal Government MUST MOVE to Prohibit 'Electronic Voting' throughout the USA! Not even the electronic "Counting" machines can be trusted!

Brick

[Last-LiberalRepublicans]

WOW!!! I am Glad Florida Got RID of Those Garbage This Year!!

[BillCarson]

What a piece of JUNK!! I feel sorry for the folks that have to vote on these Electronic Touch Screen Cheating Machines. Here in Oregon we vote with "old fashioned" paper ballots. They work!

[Palemoon]

I live in Georgia where they made the knee-jerk reaction to buy Diebold machines in early 2001 right after the Florida disaster in 2000. Wasn't it kind of odd that Diebold just happened to be ready to sell millions of voting machines at that time? Not a chance that was coincidence eh? LOL

But alas, when I go to the polls on Tuesday (I refuse to vote early, I'm a traditionalist), I will make sure I ask if they will give a paper ballot instead. Or I might go down to the courthouse where they do early voting and ask about it there. Either way, I plan on trying to go the paper route instead of using those stupid diebold machines. If they refuse, then I'll have to resort to the video vote method somehow, even with my worn out old digital camera.

[huff-n-puff-post]

Wow! I guess this means that Republicans are smarter than democrats.

Get real. That's about as silly as saying race determines intelligence.

[joeyfoto]

Does the law demanding no electionering within 100 feet of polling locations mean that If you have an Obama bumper-sticker on your car you can't use the handicapped parking spaces at the polling places in Texas? I wonder: Who enforces that law?

[Eastexgal]

Yes it does. You can either take it off or park on the street. Who enforces this law?- the election judge and the alternate judge- who by the way carry the full weight as state jusge on that day. And yes they have the ability to arrest anyone who will not comply with Texas election code.
If they don't enforce the law they themselves can be brought up on charges of election violation.

[Eastexgal]

And it get's better - you can't talk politics, weither gripping or discussing canidates, while you are in line. That is seen as campaigning and you will be asked to leave.

[SenorBob]

If you have a bumper sticker and you use the handicapped parking space, just tape a piece of paper over it.

I really don't see why people have a problem with this.

[huff-n-puff-post]

Republicans aren't worried about silly things like this.

Even if it is a problem it should equally affect both candidates. That is unless there is a big disparity between the numbers of disabled(?) democrats and disabled Republicans.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

Here's the deal sparky, if you want to vote, have your driver's liscence, nobody can prevent you from doing so. If you are a convicted felon, no, you may not vote. But if you are a student, elderly, black, white, green chartreuse, can show your home address, go for it. The out and out lies coming out to threaten, scare innocent people must end. If you need a ride, the Obamma camp will pick you up, and get you to the polls. Rain or shine. This election is about all of us having our rights seen and heard, and no GOP dirty tricks, lies, threats can stop it. Folks, this is our moment, its our chance to partake in a piece of history. Dont' let fear tactics disuade you, scare you, cheat you. There is power in numbers and nobody can stop a tidle wave, we keep on coming. The polls open at 6 am, and close at 7, but if you are in line, waiting, with ID, you will get your chance to cast your ballot. I voted early so i can help those who need a ride to the polls, or who need help at the polls get it. I wont let the GOP steal this election, and you can't either. Vote your little hearts out.

[Samshade77]

If you are a convicted felon, no, you may not vote WRONG YOU CAN VOTE IF YOU ARE A CONVICTED FELON, IF YOU ARE ON PAROLE OR PROBATION YOU CANNOT VOTE. PLEASE STOP SPREADING THIS LIE, I AM A CONVICTED FELON I TIMES OVER AND I VOTE I AM NOT ON PAROLE OR PROBATION.

[SenorBob]

"If you are a convicted felon, no, you may not vote. "

Not true, it varies by state. In Maine and Vermont, convicted felons can vote from their prison cells. Some states allow ex-cons to vote upon release from prison, where others can vote upon completion of parole. In some states, felons lose the right to vote entirely, but it depends upon the crime and date committed.

Considering there are about 3.5 million felons in the country, I wonder how many of them aren't voting because they mistakenly believe they aren't eligible.

http://felonvoting.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=286

[huff-n-puff-post]

Hmmm. And who would those felons be partial to? Got any CNN polls on that?
Probably the party that is pushing the hardest to re-enfranchise them.

[mzspine1]

You only hear about it on the Republican side because that is all the press will let you hear. In my area it is entirely the opposite. People caught filling out absentee ballots for people in rest homes who have dementia and cannot even tell you who is running for president. Bus loads of mentally challenged people from a local home brought in to vote, they could not even sign their names. We also have laws about polling within in so many feet of the actual voting establishment. These laws apparently do not include bribes of alcohol because there have been several "questionable" characters brought to the polls to vote only to leave with a token of "appreciation". Guess what all these instances were perpetrated by Democrats. I do not believe one sides needs to point fingers at the other until the have checked their own backyard.

[BillCarson]

Here's a link documenting the republican voter suppression efforts: http://www.bradblog.com/

You made a number of claims about the Democrats. Do you have a link to support your claims?

[huff-n-puff-post]

Any perpetrators been caught yet?
If not, then they're probably all Obamaites trying to smear Republicans

[codwix]

If this were a story about another nation we would all be shocked.

What we need to do is Talk/Tell/Email everyone and tell them to vote.

We must beat the Republicans at the ballot box.

[BlackBuddha]

After all the voter suppression, (recently) rigged elections, etc....

I almost feel that we should be beating the Republicans with the ballot box.

[huff-n-puff-post]

If you can't do it there you can always do it in the courts.
If not there, put your activists on the streets.

Check out how Obama has 'won' his other campaigns.

[CC1]

Only complete morons would fall for that vote on Nov. 5 trick.

[Eastexgal]

Here's one reason someone would fall for it- Some states have the Dem and Rep primaries on different days, so someone may think that the statement might be true.
Any lie can be beleved if it sounds like they are "trying to help you out". Con artist depend upon it- and, saddly, it works.

[CC1]

Agreed.

[Bob H]

It's a technique that is usually target at the elderly. And it works because they often feel vulnerable. You might calling grandma and grandpa morons.

[BillCarson]

If it fools 3 or 5 people out of a hundred, that's a 3% to 5% swing. In a close election that could be enough to turn it.

[CC1]

Yeah I see your point. With Bush it took his dad's supreme court buddies though :)

[liseworks]

Why is it I never hear similar tactics attributed to Democrats ?
Honestly, it seems corrruption runs though every strata of the Republican Party !!

[Tulka2]

You do not hear this about Democrats because when everyone votes, Democrats win. The Republicans have to steal elections because they can not win them. At least, not at this time in history. How far has the party of Lincoln fallen.

Noam Chomsky has an interesting analysis. He says both parties are "business parties" and that goes back to the founding fathers who sort of thought it right and proper for the people with wealth to have more say so. But... the way it stands now is that the Republican party stands for the military industrial complex business, while the Democratic party stands for domestic business. You can see why our fellow citizens see the Democrats most stands for their economic interests at this time. Things will always change, but this is where we stand now.

[liseworks]

I've often felt there was another sociological trend differentiating the 2 parties :
The trickle-down-theory Republicans financially favor the wealthy -
There are inherent qualities that usually accommodate the Republican wealthy : cut-th.roa­t tendencies in business to the point of possible pre.d.ato.­rship, love of po.wer, love of enti.tleme­nt.
This creates a 2-tier "base" :
The lower income who revere the wealthy, not realizing that they are meant to 'stay put" as "employees" forever ....& the wealthy "revered".
With Dems, it's a "create leaders" among the middle class, so as to spread out the wealth, not as socialism, but as a trend toward allowing far more people reach that pinnacle.
The humanity implied in that process ....in my view, simply creates a more harmonious citizenry.

[LondonTownNY]

Because Republicans only want "certain" Americans voting. It is a sad statement of American Democracy that our Democratic Process has become more corrupted than the countries we try to move to Democracy. How do Bush/Cheney have any credibility whatsoever to sell Democracy abroad when they clearly show no respect or regard for the votes of millions of American citizens. It is criminal. And someday the people will stand up and pursuant to the Constitution challenge their leaders.

[JessMama]

It's incredibly sad that voting has come to this. Didn't this quagmire begin because the Rethugs were beside themselves that Bill legitimately won twice? They vowed to not let that happen again, so they knew what they had to do to win in 2000. And after two major elections of these election violations and abuse, Dems finally got smart and realized they had to protect themselves against theft.

Repubicans will literally do anything to get elected. The will of the people is supposed to be what propels politicians into action, but they could care less.

[kellygrrrl]

every African-American who is told this news has three possible responses:

1. "So they will be arresting Rove at the polls?"
(2 and 3 are the words of Dick Cheney)
2. "SO?"
3. "GoFvckYourself"

[reno1190]

THEY KNOW WHICH AFRICAN AMER AREAS TO PULL THAT CRAP BET IT WONT BE IN COMPTON (BLOODS & CRIPS)

[rock2casbah]

That insignia and candidate gear is for poll watchers, judges etc. not the voters.

[GingerB]

That's not true. Check your state law on it, but any campaign literature or paraphenalia isn't allowed in polling places even by voters. They can eject you until you come back without camapaign gear.

[SimonNZ]

Hmmm. Sounds tough. Here's a radical idea. If this occurs why not either take off the offending item, if its a button or hat, or carry a sweater or jacket to cover it up. Failing that keep a plain shirt in the car or in a rucksack, walk to the bathroom, change and then come back and vote.

[Eastexgal]

No- in Texas it even pertains to the baby you are pushing in the stroller. So Moms of Texas- no Obama bibs at the polling place.
How 'bout this- I worked with one woman who wouldn't even let you park within 100 ft. if you had a political bumber sticker- either take it off or park on the street!! No kidding.

[rock2casbah]

Guess what though? If anyone in this world knows their rights and that they cannot be arrested or confronted about anything when they try and vote it's black folks. So all that will do will be to make them more riled up and determined to get their vote counted.

But thanks repubs for another stupid trick.

They act like African american people just got here in the USA when most of their roots go back more generations than many average Americans.

[EllaBee]

True dat!

[706makeupgirl]

Hey I have been getting emails from friends telling me that if I vote straight democratic I must also vote for Obama. I called the County Registrar and the Secy. of State for CA. They both said that on the ballots in CA, there is no 'Straight Democratic' classification. So for those of us in CA that have been getting those emails, that issue is moot.
But remember that here in CA you cannot wear any campaign garb. If you do you will be asked to leave the polling area. Just leave your stuff in your car.......­....or bring a sweater to cover that t-shirt!
Dont forget to vote, NOV. 4th ya'all!!

[kellygrrrl]

yeah, for the most part, no one tries the funny biz in CA. -- except the LDS Church who is pushing this Prop 8 cr@p

[Eastexgal]

Question: What is CA's Prop 8?

[gws1968]

In NC you can vote a straight party ticket but it does NOT include the Presidential race. You have to make sure you make your Presidential pick as well as your straight party pick or you will not vote for the President.

[rock2casbah]

The clothes requirements are for poll workers not voters. This is still a free country.