For the record, as the court battle goes on:
On Saturday at a rally at an American Legion hall in Williston Park, Newsday's Michael Amon was on hand as John Ryan, general counsel to the Nassau County Republican Party, told GOP poll inspectors to "be vigilant" about voters being brought in from New York City.
"If a person comes in you know isn't from the community, who you know isn't supposed to be allowed to vote, challenge them," Ryan said.
He also told inspector to monitor voting machines. He said inspectors should be courteous but firm in their challenges.
"You're not out there to get into confrontations and fights," Ryan said.
Comments (2)
"If a person comes in you know isn't from the community, who you know isn't supposed to be allowed to vote, challenge them," Ryan said."
Hypocrite-- In local Floral Park Village elections where he is the Village attorney he allowed voter regictration cards without signatures to be used.
Anonymous:
First of all, it's VERY unlikely that voters from NYC or elsewhere would have attempted to influence a Village of Floral Park election - the very idea is absurd.
Moreover, most voters would likely have been known to the poll watchers anyway, so such voter "protections" would probably have been superfluous. Also, I know John Ryan to be a good and decent man.
Second, with so much at stake here, it could be very tempting for party members - even if only acting on their own - to try to unfairly impact the election by bringing in like-minded voters from NYC. Voter checks are appropriate in this special election.
I PROUDLY worked as a lawyer for the Bush / Cheney campaign in 2004 and was assigned to Philadelphia, PA to watch over several Democrat election districts. Let's just say that we found that some "liberties" were taken on several occasions. Kerry campaign workers, for example, were found inside the voting area that was off limits to them; and, as incredible as it may sound, one election worker told me directly that if he saw a Republican anywhere in the area that he would physically "go after him" with his gun. Serious stuff; serious voter intimidation.
I doubt any of that would happen here. But voter checks are appropriate.