Check out this bit of election tomfoolery in Minnesota:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

These are the actions of "Minnesota Majority," which has recruited volunteers to prevent "voter fraud" (that is, intimidate voters). It's the same bunch that has been putting up posters showing a guy in handcuffs with the caption, "Voting Fraud is a Felony." Strangely, these posters have only appeared in areas with a significant minority population. And now this is taking place in Minnesota's largest county (the one with the most Democratic-voting minority groups, of course). Bastards.

Hennepin County election judges have been dealing with overly aggressive vote challengers looking for fraud early Tuesday.

County Elections Manager Rachel Smith says precinct judges have had what she calls "very firm exchanges" with poll watchers who didn't seem to understand their role.

Specifically, she says they were wandering into secure areas and challenging voters for the wrong reasons.

Smith says challengers may only sit behind the registration tables and may only challenge someone's right to vote based on their personal knowledge, not the voter's behavior.
http://wcco.com/politics/hennepin.county.election.2.1991966.html

[aquart]

1. Good for Rachel Smith!

[Morning Dew]

2. Exactly. Based on their personal knowledge

as in MN statutes 204c.12 subd. 2


The challengers were just sitting behind the registration table at my polling place. I recently moved and I had to register in my new precinct.

I was ready in case the challengers were antsy.

[zbdent]

3. hmm ... "appeared in areas with a significant minority population"

and likely, an area which would be found to have a high number of "false alarms" about "fraudulent voters" ... which were later released without charges ...

[barbtries]

4. apparently early voting in nc

was beset by the same overly aggressive republican vote watchers. sorry no link; i heard it on npr and also heard that after complaints by poll workers they eased up.