Rethugs to mount election day challenges to Democrat voters

Election officials in...swing states, from Arizona to Wisconsin and Florida, say they are bracing for...efforts by Republicans to challenge new voters at polling places, reflecting months of disputes over voting procedures and the anticipation of an election as close as the one in 2000.

Ohio election officials said they had never seen so large a drive to prepare for Election Day challenges. They said they were scrambling yesterday to be ready for disruptions in the voting process as well as alarm and complaints among voters. Some officials said they worried that the challenges could discourage or even frighten others waiting to vote.

NY Times article

And the Republican party hopes for that. My suggestion to newly registered voters is that you first check with your local elections office to be sure your registration was turned in if you signed up somewhere outside a registration office, and to find out what documents you might bring with you for proof of your eligibility to vote should you be challenged. It could save a lot of headaches and frustration on voting day. Some states allow you to vote early, which could also save you voting day troubles. Just remember, if you are voting Republican, you probably don't need to be concerned about any of this, but if you are voting Democrat, while it might be frustrating, it is extremely important. Not because you are voting Democrat, but because there is an entrenched political faction in this country that would like to deny you your right to vote. Don't make it easy for them unless you are prepared to relinquish that right.

Update 10/24: Reader/commenter Autumn Snow reports that a month ago CNN was saying new voter registration in Ohio was up 27% for Republicans and 250% for Democrats. Indeed, that would trigger some GOP scrambling.