Washington Office scores Republicans, not Democrats By John H. Adams The Layman Online Thursday, October 28, 2004 The Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has weighed in on the 2004 presidential election with a condemnation of Republicans for allegedly having plans to challenge voters' qualifications. Some of the Washington Office staff walked over to the Republican National Committee headquarters to declare that Republicans were violating the voting rights of minorities and handicapped people. But there wasn't a word of criticism about scores of Democrats' legal actions that could delay the final outcome of the presidential election for months – just as the U.S. Supreme Court had to rule against a suit filed on behalf of presidential candidate Al Gore in 2000 before George W. Bush's election became official. Democrats have already filed nine suits in Florida, accusing state election officials of conspiring to disenfranchise black voters. One of those suits challenges a state law that requires people registering to vote to check a box indicating that they are a citizen of the United States. The Democrats' suits argue that Florida's registration laws result in a higher percentage of rejections for blacks than they do for whites. The following is the text of the news release by the Washington Office. Despite earlier requests from the civil rights community, the Republican National Committee has failed to put an end to Republican-initiated plans to aggressively target minority voters and voters with disabilities for challenges at the polls during the November 2nd general election. According to the New York Times, Ohio GOP officials have taken formal steps to place thousands of recruits inside polling places on Election Day to challenge voters' qualifications, and have already challenged the eligibility of 35,000 registered voters in inner-city areas statewide. The BBC has obtained documents suggesting that Florida GOP officials have similar plans. The documents – prepared for top RNC and Bush campaign operatives – list the names and addresses of 1,886 voters in predominantly black areas of Jacksonville, Florida, who will likely be the subject of challenges at the polls. Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel (R) told U.S. News that he is working to "keep down" the Philadelphia vote. A coordinated campaign to challenge predominately minority voters and voters with disabilities is unlawful, unconstitutional, and anti-American. Voters may be frightened and discouraged, as widespread challenges could cause significant disruptions, delays, and long lines.

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