Newsday reports that the Craig Johnson campaign has requested Federal poll monitors from the Department of Justice to prevent republican voter intimidation efforts.

The republicans, apparently, are fearful of rumors that there may be black people voting.

The New York Times has more:

In Nassau on Wednesday, Republican election officials sought to include forms for challenging voters in the kits prepared for polling place workers. The Democrats blocked the move, but there is nothing to stop Republican workers from taking the forms to the polls and using them.

Mr. Mondello served notice that his field workers would closely scrutinize voters. “Our poll watchers and election inspectors will challenge people to show some kind of identification as to who they are,” he said. “They have a right to ask for identification to make sure you are John Smith. Our people have been cavalier about this in the past. This time, in this election, we’re dearly concerned.”

Thing is, as anyone who spent time in, say, Ohio, in 2004 knows, there is nothing cavalier about these forms and the way in which they're used. Based on my experience, the most likely target are elderly voters of color who have waited in line to vote, are clearly tired, and are nearing the head of the line.

The Democrats would be well advised to take this very seriously indeed. These tactics, incidentally, are one reason why Senators Schumer and Obama introduced a Senate bill on Wednesday titled simply The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Bill. We've seen all this before.

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