The Clipboard: NAACP Ridicules Republican Election Day Intimidation

NAACP press release

October 24, 2003

NAACP Ridicules Republican Election Day Intimidation
Urges voters of color to go to the polls and defend their rights

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) today ridiculed the Republican Party for planning to place Election Day challengers at 59 voting precincts in predominantly Black neighborhoods in Kentucky. Voters there will cast ballots in the hotly contested race for governor on Tuesday, November 4, 2003.

Kweisi Mfume, NAACP President and CEO said: "The use of challengers at majority African American precincts amounts to nothing but blatant voter intimidation by the Republican Party. All Kentucky voters deserve to cast their ballots without the presence of this type of threat or harassment. The GOP must not be allowed to frighten voters of color away from exercising their constitutional rights in Kentucky or any other jurisdiction in the nation."

William E. Cofield, NAACP National Board of Directors, who represents Kentucky, said: "It is reprehensible. Anytime the GOP can target just Black precincts and not place challengers at all of the polling places is racist. We are going to fight it."

Kentucky law allows each political party to place one challenger at any precinct on Election Day to question the credentials of any voter who they have "a reason to believe" is not registered, not who they claim to be or not a resident in the precinct. Challenged voters must sign an oath asserting their legitimacy before receiving a ballot. Those who refuse to sign would not be allowed to vote unless an election officer intervenes on their behalf. The Democratic Party does not plan to use challengers.

Mfume encouraged African American voters to carry a picture ID with a current address to their voting precincts "go to the polls prepared to defend your right to vote and armed with your photo identification," he said.

The NAACP, a non-partisan organization, has conducted voter registration drives and get-out-the vote campaigns for 94 years. It is a prominent and active leader in guaranteeing voting rights across the country.

Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its half-million adult and youth members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter registration drives and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

Via P6. Josh Micah Marshall has much, much more about this.