Safe, orderly election the goal of task force
Law enforcement agencies plan for a busy, exciting day at polls
Lowcountry sheriff's and police agencies are laying plans for Election Day in hopes of avoiding problems during what many expect will be a historic day full of passion, long lines and record turnouts, especially among those less familiar with how elections work.
One of the task force's first goals is to stop problems before they arise. They plan to hold a Monday press conference — the day before Election Day — to explain the do's and don'ts at the polls.
"Emotion is a word that I think is very appropriate to describe voters today in this election, on both sides," Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon said. "The police have to be sensitive and mindful to those sorts of things, playing the 'What if?' game. We're just trying to the extent we can."
Traditionally, Charleston County deputies have chauffeured election officials around to polls to troubleshoot problems that arise and have directed traffic as ballot boxes arrive for the count.
They plan to do all that next week and more, Cannon said. He did not discuss tactics in detail but said agencies want to do what they can to ensure the day runs as safely as possible. Still, election officials will continue to handle most problems at the polls.
"One of the things we are extremely sensitive to is exactly what the police role in these kinds of situations is," Cannon said. "It is a delicate balance, and really, historically ... it's not our role to straighten those issues out."
Cannon said the effort is being coordinated with local political parties and nonprofit groups such as the League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area. Mary Horres, the league's co-chair of voter services, said it's a good idea.
"We're having a lot of new voters, first-time voters this time ... and they may not be aware that they can't wear campaign buttons or shirts," she said. "If we can head off any of those problems so they don't happen, we'll be much better off."
Cannon said he hasn't seen any numbers showing that crime linked to the political season — such as stolen campaign signs or other vandalism — is any more noticeable this year than in previous election years. But he said law enforcement agencies also have been talking about how to handle election night, when the winning sides begin to celebrate.
He said he hopes to avoid any tragedies like the one that unfolded in Boston in 2004, when a 20-year-old woman died after being shot in the eye by a police projectile intended to subdue an unruly crowd celebrating a historic Red Sox win over the Yankees.
Election officials and law enforcement aren't the only ones who will be out in force in case Election Day problems arise. Charleston County Democratic Party chair George Tempel said the party will have a cadre of lawyers on call when questions or situations arise at the polls. "The hope is that an attorney won't be more than 20 minutes away from a polling place," he said.
The Rev. Joe Darby of the NAACP said he had talked to Cannon and approves of his plan. Darby said his main concern about Election Day is making sure that everyone who is entitled to vote gets to, without impediments.
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
NativeSon (anonymous) says...
A safe, orderly election is what is wanted! Did you notice that there is no interest in an honest election?
That's because as long as electronic voting machines are being used there is no way of knowing that your vote is not altered to benefit another candidate and there is nothing you can do about it!
Give me the good, old fashioned hand marked, hand counted ballots any day. Then everyone knows what the vote is for.
October 28, 2008 at 4:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tides (anonymous) says...
Lets all hope and pray that member of a racist, radical, anti-american hateful church doesn't get elected. He sure has some very eyebrow raising associations. Plus he has no experience at anything.
An audio of an interview surfaced from 2001. He actually thinks the Constitution should be ripped up and tossed in a fire. Sick puppy.
October 28, 2008 at 5:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tides (anonymous) says...
Yes Native. ACORN has really been involved in fraud and illegal voter registration. Obama is tied directly to it.
Did you see Joe Biden caught willfully lying on camera? A TV reporter in Florida interview him and Biden got angry like 'how dare you ask me those questions' ... then he resorted to lying about Obama never giving single penny to ACORN.
Amazing how Obama and Biden just lie about everything. Anything to get elected.
I am voting McCain. Obama is to crazy and has some odd people in his circle. Obama saying the Constitution should be destroyed is very bizarre behavior.
October 28, 2008 at 5:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tides (anonymous) says...
Biden the Alcoholic Bigot >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxT0EL...
October 28, 2008 at 5:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wonderdog (anonymous) says...
The Democrats will have "a cadre of lawyers" available. Isn't that comforting? I guess they need to be around to answer questions like:
"But they said I could vote 5 times for $5. You are depriving me of my rights!"
"No, the name on my license doesn't match my voter registration card. You are depriving me of my rights!"
"I can vote again. I went home and changed clothes! You are depriving me of my rights!"
"What voter registration card? You are depriving me of my rights!"
"Who do I want to vote for? I don't know. They told me to push the buttons for the people on this piece of paper. You are depriving me of my rights!"
(comments made to poll workers)
October 28, 2008 at 7:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SpiderJohn (anonymous) says...
The most important think is to vote! Just shut up and vote!
I am a political junkie, but I am so sick of this partisan bickering that I want to scream!
SHUT UP AND VOTE!
October 28, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SpiderJohn (anonymous) says...
One more point......NativeSon - if an individual is registered to vote and they show up at the correct polls they should not be turned away.
The checks & balances that are carried out by the election officials are in place to catch voter fraud.
The invalid applications associated with ACORN are not a threat to democracy....do you really think Mickey Mouse is going to show up at the polls on Nov. 4th and vote?
If you do than you are a bigger fool than your post points out.
Usual suspects making the usual statements.......I cannot wait until Obama is elected and we climb out of the festering pool of racism and partisan crap.
October 28, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SpiderJohn (anonymous) says...
Mooner - than stop being a racist and stop being an idiot. You were the one that stated "they all look alike", not I. All I pointed out was that it time you adjust to your new environment. Remember you are the transplant not I. I do not have to change to fit in, you need to adapt to your new world where (gasp) black people roam free!
October 28, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SpiderJohn (anonymous) says...
oops - it wasn't you mooner on this thread. It was another thread. They are all blurring together. But my point stands.
SHUT UP AND VOTE!
I am sick of all the bickering!
October 28, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SpiderJohn (anonymous) says...
Posted on October 27 at 5:22 p.m.
Many of us who come from another part of the country, where blacks are rare, say from time to time "They all look the same". This isn't said in a mean spirited way we just haven't been exposed to them. Surely all the relevant details would be of benefit to us and I'm sure we would be happy to help out. Darned shame a human being would be found in a ditch though.
On Officials identify woman found in ditch Saturday
I knew it was you that had made that staement, it was just on another thread! See you are an idiot!
October 28, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SpiderJohn (anonymous) says...
"they all look alike" you wrote it!
Charlestonians are not from anywhere else but Charleston!
6 of one or a half a dozen of another you are still an idiot for your statements!
Loser!
October 28, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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