[EL] Alabama officials get xenophobic about the OSCE observers

[Edward Still]

The Tuscaloosa News
reports<http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20121105/news/121109859>:


Two European election observers will be in Alabama today and their presence
is causing a stir.

Election observers from the Office of Security and Co-operation in
Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights have conducted
limited election observation missions in the United States since 2002, just
as U.S. election observers have been doing in foreign countries.

The United States is a member of the Office of Security and Co-operation in
Europe, which had been incorrectly identified as a United Nations
affiliate. That initial link to the U.N. caused state officials in Texas
and Alabama to warn against election intrusion.

Alabama Secretary of State Beth Chapman's office recently issued a
statement that "anyone in any polling place who is approached by or
observing anyone from the OSCE" should call her election hot line.

First of all, the O in OSCE stands for Organization.

Five years ago I was an election observer in the Scottish elections.
Everyone in my group (organized by FairVote) was given a credential by the
national election authority in Britain so that we were allowed to go into
polling places, counting facilities, and the like. We were not allowed to
campaign, interfere with voters, or interfere with polling officials.
Pretty much like the rules for poll watchers in Alabama.

Our group was in Britain (London and then Scotlan) for a week, so we
observed a lot more than just voting on election day. We got briefings from
election officials, civil servants, and on election night many in our group
met candidates and officials of political parties who had turned out for
the count.

On election day, I went to two polling places (one in the anteroom of a
mosque, the other in a classroom of a Roman Catholic school). In each
place, I introduced myself and showed my credentials to the chief polling
officer. As voters were leaving the polling site, I introduced myself and
asked a few questions about their views on their election system.

It was a great experience for all in the group. I wish Alabama could be as
gracious to the OSCE as the English and Scots were to us.


Edward Still
Edward Still Law Firm LLC
130 Wildwood Parkway, Suite 108, PMB 304
Birmingham AL 35209
205-320-2882 (voice & fax)
  still at votelaw.com
  www.votelaw.com/blog
  www.edwardstill.com
  www.linkedin.com/in/edwardstill <http://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardstill>
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