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| Extra Security at Polls Due to al-Qa'ida Threats |
| 2004-10-23 |
| Election officials are beefing up security and taking other precautions at many of the nation's 200,000 polling places amid continuing concern that al-Qaida terrorists are intent on disrupting the U.S. political process. Some officials are increasing police patrols and assigning plainclothes officers to monitor voting sites on Election Day. Others are taking steps to secure ballot boxes, set up emergency communications systems and locate backup polling places in the event of an attack. "We have to prepare for the worst situation," said Brenda Fisher, elections director for Anne Arundel County in Maryland. FBI and Homeland Security Department officials stress that a steady stream of intelligence indicating the threat of an election-year threat is general in nature, with no specific indications that terrorists might strike polling places. But elections officials say they can't discount the possibility that al-Qaida might be attracted to long lines of voters to make a violent statement against democracy. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #11 I have a gut feeling this election is not going to be as close as the pundits are predicting. I would not be suprised to see either Bush or kerry win by around 10% and the EC go 2 to 1. There's going to be a lot of people who normally don't vote voting this year. its just that it is too hard to get a handle on just how they'll go due to most of them being off of the radar screen |
| Posted by: Cheaderhead 2004-10-23 6:22:09 PM |
| #10 I don't know about the authorities, but I was thinking Democratic Underground types or AFL-CIO thugs would be more likely to attempt somethng. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-10-23 6:15:14 PM |
| #9 Somebody want to explain to me how AQ could disrupt a significant portion of 200,000 polling places? Their better strategy would be another WTC-type spectacular about mid-day just to dusrupt everybody's schedules. Of course that might help give Bush four more years, in which case AQ has screwed themselves again. |
| Posted by: Tom 2004-10-23 12:45:46 PM |
| #8 Early voting sites here in Texas are reporting record voter turnout as well. I went to one at 4pm last wednesday and there may have been 75 - 100 people in line. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-10-23 12:28:54 PM |
| #7 Announcing the extra security will decrease the likelihood of political idiots creating incidents. And then, the good guys will already be there should an incident occur. Win/win for everyone (except the police families, of course). |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2004-10-23 10:35:49 AM |
| #6 SPD, I voted yesterday and for early voting I had to stand in line for 40 minutes. And the line didn't go down. Others seemed to keep coming in to take their place at the rear of the line to wait their turn. I didn't see anyone come in, survey the line and then decide to come back later or another day. No they weren't illegals, nor did they appear to be party turn outs. The very first day of early voting, a couple days ago, around 270 voted at the centralized location. This is in a low population county in New Mexico. Yeah, all counties in NM are low population, but this is something I haven't seen in 10 years of voting here. Something is happening. |
| Posted by: Don 2004-10-23 10:06:23 AM |
| #5 Sock, can you go in person if your state does the 'early voting' bit? Just to make sure your vote is counted properly, and NO paper ballot, if you know what I mean... I feel this election in terms of Dems pulling all kinds voter fraud stunts will be the worst since the post Civil War era in the South. The Dems have had lots of practice. Even if the presidental voter tally turns out being something like, 53% Bush, 47% Kerry, the power mad radical Dems will still scream & file countless law suits, demanding a full state by state recount, or worse, another election. |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-10-23 2:21:14 AM |
| #4 My ballot is waiting for me to open fill out and resend. Hopefully if will get counted this time. There was some kind of rumored scandal in 2002 that kept my absentee ballot and those of others from being counted. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-10-23 1:18:00 AM |
| #3 And then the extra police presence will be assailed by the LLL as "voter intimidation." Also "fearmongering." |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-10-23 12:48:48 AM |
| #2 Sock, I already voted. Some states allow it. For this election the turnout is expected to be larger then the normal low numbers. Since many people are taking advantage of 'early voting' it could reduce long lines in some key urban areas on November 2nd. |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-10-23 12:39:07 AM |
| #1 Long lines of voters? Not most places. The turnout is always pathetic given the number of eligible voters. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-10-23 12:31:04 AM |