From the Pine Bluff (Ark.) Commercial. Not a good sign for the upcoming election, but I have to say this does not surprise me. __________________ CONTROVERSY GREETS EARLY VOTING By Judy Normand/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF Early voters were met Monday at the Jefferson County Courthouse by poll watchers from the Republican Party of Arkansas who demanded identification and challenged voter ballots. The Democrats' "Team Arkansas" had barely concluded its early vote rally across the street from the Courthouse when the trouble began. Under the watchers' eyes, both voters and county officials received what they called unexpected - and unnecessary - scrutiny of the election process. Trey Ashcraft, chairman of the Jefferson County Election Commission, said it was obvious the Republicans' actions were targeting African-Americans. In a press release, Michael Cook, executive director for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, criticized Sen. Tim Hutchinson and the Republican Party for intimidating and harassing African-American voters in Jefferson County and for giving the poll watchers notarized credentials he said were apparently forged. "Their papers did not seem to be in order," Ashcraft said. "Tim Hutchinson and the Republican Party have claimed that they want to reach out to African-American voters, but when election time comes they have nothing to offer but intimidation and harassment," Cook said. "We ask Tim Hutchinson and his party to stop disenfranchising African-American voters and obstructing the democratic process." During Monday's voting, poll watchers were seen asking voters to either produce identification or risk having their ballots challenged. "A voter does not have to show an ID as long as it's noted on the ballot," Secretary of State Sharon Priest said. "They (poll watchers) can challenge a ballot, but they cannot ask for an ID or even talk to the voters." Several voters received pointed requests from poll watcher Allison Johnson to produce identification, and refused - a right, Priest said, that is protected by law. Voter Bonita McCray also refused the ID request, saying "When she insisted, I put my ID back in my purse. They had no right to do this." Officials in the clerk's office said several would-be voters became so frustrated and offended by the process that they left without casting a vote. Deputy Clerk Charlotte Munson reported a poll watcher had actually walked behind her counter to photograph voter information on her computer screen. The watcher, she said, also asked for identification from, and then photographed, a first-time voter who was visibly shaken by the action. "This woman (a poll watcher) was looking over my shoulder, and this is my business, not hers," the agitated voter said later. Poll watcher Chris Carnahan admitted a colleague had been using photography to document aspects of the voting process, but said he did advise the person to put away the camera. "We're here to ensure a clean and fair election," he said. Johnson also accused a deputy clerk of not requesting IDs from prospective voters and said workers had no challenge ballots prepared. "They refused to accept challenge ballots," Johnson said. Ashcraft said this was not true. He was unable to say exactly how many ballots were challenged, but said there had been "several." Ashcraft said he was disappointed in the Republican "Gestapo" tactics. "They're trying to intimidate and prevent voters from participating in the Democratic process," Ashcraft said. "The registered voters feel insecure and the photos are inexcusable. They (Republicans) know they can't win, so they're trying to steal this election. This is politics at its worst. They're breaking the law and it's disgusting." At least twice, Ashcraft summoned a deputy from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to escort "watcher" Diane Jones out of the clerk's office for what he said was definite interference with the voting process. Cook said the tactics used by the Republican workers clearly crossed the line from poll watcher to voter obstruction. Marty Ryall, director of the Republican Party of Arkansas, said in a telephone interview that different groups of poll watchers will continue to be sent to the Jefferson County Courthouse each voting day until Nov. 5. Ashcraft countered with a promise to produce "watchers" of his own - of the Democratic persuasion. "They're trying to intimidate and prevent voters from participating in the Democratic process," Ashcraft said. "The registered voters feel insecure and the photos are inexcusable. They (Republicans) know they can't win, so they're trying to steal this election. This is politics at its worst. They're breaking the law and it's disgusting."
