[I]t appeared likely that when Ohio polls open, the Republicans would be able to put 3,500 challengers inside polling places around the state. Democrats also planned to send more than 2,000 monitors to the polls, though they said those people would not challenge voters. …
The Republicans contend that challenging – a practice that has been allowed under state law for decades but rarely used – will weed out fraud often missed by election workers. Democrats assert that the challenges would disproportionately single out low-income and minority voters, which Republicans deny. …
In seeking the delicate balance between preventing fraud and upholding voting rights, the judges said, the scales should tip toward voting rights.
“Voter intimidation severely burdens the right to vote, and prevention of such intimidation is a compelling state interest,” wrote Judge Dlott, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton. Judge Adams was appointed by President Bush. [mjh: This rulling was overturned overnight by a Federal Appeals panel.]
In Philadelphia, Republicans have said they plan to challenge 10,000 voters in the heavily black West Philadelphia section because of what they say are concerns of registration fraud. Democratic Party lawyers are expected to ask judges to remove the challengers if they are overly aggressive.
In Florida, Republicans have said they will challenge 1,700 people with felons convictions if they show up to vote. Democrats have mustered thousands of poll watchers whose job will be to ensure that voters are not intimidated.
In New Mexico, officials in both parties said they were placing hundreds of lawyers in polling places as monitors. Democrats have said they will not challenge voters, but Republicans have held out the possibility of doing so.