Steal the Vote 2004, part 18
In Philadelphia, the GOP tried to move 63 polling places, mostly in black (=Democratic) neighbourhoods. One of the people who put their name under the request was Matt Robb a Republican ward leader in South Philadelphia, who said “I’m just not going in there to get a knife in my back.” Fortunately, this attempt got squashed (free registration required):
REPUBLICAN OPERATIVES working to re-elect President Bush submitted last-minute requests in Philadelphia on Friday to relocate 63 polling places.
Bush’s Pennsylvania campaign staff filed the requests, using the names of two Republicans running for the U.S. Congress and seven Republican ward leaders.
Of the 63 requests for changes, 53 are in political divisions where the population of white voters is less than 10 percent.
“I think this is more evidence of Republicans working to disenfranchise low-income and minority voters,” said Mark Nevins, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. John Kerry. “It’s despicable.”
Bob Lee, voter registration administrator for the City Commission, said the requests appear to be “discriminatory” and were filed too late to be eligible for a hearing on Wednesday.
“They’re trying to suppress the vote,” Lee said of Republicans.