I live in a working class neighborhood of one of the smaller midwestern battleground states... understand our town was historically 'all white'. But like much of America, the demographics are changing and our neighborhood is one of the areas where this is most readily 'observable'...
I guess it is not a coincidence then that for the first time in MY memory we have 'challengers' at the polling places... Here is my my account of the 'interaction' I had with him...
I was in line to vote and low and behold, standing right behind the election judges... a challenger. We knew because he had a name tag on that said 'Challenger'...
One of the ladies behind me said "Oh my, one of those 'challengers' I read about... we got them HERE too?" He said "Yup"...
I then turned to him and said... "And he is supposed to identify who he is and where we can reach him if we have 'issues' later on... if we want him subpoenaed or something in regard to a false challenge" I was staring right at him by then... I am not a big guy but I have a bit of an intimidating stare... one of my eyes has a bit of a crazy look when I glare and smile just right...
He was uncomfortable I could tell... he said "I have all my credentials filed at the county court house... all you have to do is ask for them..."
I then followed up with... "and of course you are from the neighborhood, from the precinct...Right?" Still staring... He looked ahead and said "Yup".
I then turned to the election judges (they were the same old ladies as every year, all were from the neighborhood - one I knew from church)... and in my 'kind voice' I said to them "If he challenges anyone, make sure they know this - that they have recourse and where they can reach him if they have... issues."
The woman in line with me then added, looking at the judges... "And don't forget YOU are the final say HERE not him - he can challenge, you judge!" I looked at the lady in line with me and smiled...
We were all polite - but firm... a not all that subtile reminder to him we knew where to look him up if we had to.
I then went and voted...
As I was walking home, I walked by a car and the window was open... a different elderly man and woman leaned over and called out to me... "Sir, we just want to thank you for doing that, for speaking out and doing it REALLY loud... everyone there heard and I think that was good... I wish we had done that... people need to know their rights..." We then talked for about 30 minutes outside the polling place... about Florida, Ohio and how it might happen here... Turns out they are like me - used to vote GOP half the time (we had even supported the same GOPers I learned)... Not this time - straight democratic down the line...down the ticket. I told them `me too'... we parted ways and I continue walking home....
A half hour later my son shows up (unemployed college student who moved home last year)... He is heading off to vote. We live in a state with `same day same site registration'... so he needs to register first then vote... I go along with to `verify' he lives here assuming the challenger might challenge him (similar name, same address)... and guess what? The challenger wasn't there anymore - GONE. My son had no problems...
As I was waiting outside the polling place one of the election judges walked by and whispered to me ..."He left right after you came... after you called him out" She walked away with a smile... They encouraged me to become an election judge as the current ones are all dying off...
And best of all my 21 y/o son got a lesson on how not to be cowed by these people...
Made my day.