Voter Registration Illinois

(Associated Press file photo)

The world has changed in many ways since 1981, but perhaps not as much as it has in the world of politics. Maybe, though, the world hasn't changed so much when it comes to polling places and casting ballots in New Jersey.

Some of us are old enough to remember 35 years ago, when Republican Tom Kean defeated Democrat Jim Florio by a mere 1,797 votes for governor. This November 1981 election came with a delay of almost a month while a recount was done to confirm Kean's razor-thin margin.

But here's the thing: The 1981 race also came fully equipped with the "National Ballot Security Task Force," an invention of the Republican National Committee. To staff the "task force," the RNC hired off-duty law enforcement personnel and other assorted characters, wearing official looking-armbands to patrol polling places in mostly minority communities.

Under the guise of ensuring the integrity of the vote, the real goal was to scare off voters in urban communities and keep the Democrats' vote totals down as a way to help Republican Kean. Given the thin margin that made Kean the governor, it's easy to argue that the tactic worked. What that stunt also did was result in a court order, now 30 years old, that restricts the GOP from targeting minorities with similar voter suppression antics.

So what does 1981 have to do with 2016? Well, with the Republican nominee for president running around yelling about "rigged elections," especially in minority cities and communities, and with his web site signing up "election observers," we're back to plowing the same ground that we did 35 years ago.

I had all but forgotten that mess from back in the 1981 until Democratic National Committee officials and reporters started connecting the dots between the 2016 rigged-election rhetoric and "observer" recruiting with the court order that has remained in place since that gubernatorial election. That's when I started paying attention.

So heated has the issue become, and so real is the possibility of intimidation at polling places, that the DNC filed a civil action on Oct. 26 in U.S. District Court in New Jersey to make sure there's not a replay of 1981.

The Democrats' filing asked the court to order the RNC to show why it should not be held in contempt of the consent decree. After arguments on Friday, a federal judge on Saturday declined to take any pre-election action against the RNC, but continued the case beyond Tuesday's voting. The DNC also wants the consent decree against vote suppression continued for another eight years.

The litigation spells out what brought us to this point, which is the talk by Trump about watching "certain areas." By "certain areas," Trump has referenced minority cities and communities with a wink and a nod, saying "You've got to get everybody to go out and watch ... and when [I] say 'watch,' you know what I'm talking about, right?"

Any effort to intimidate voters is one of the worst things a person can do in our system. Using fear to silence someone's voice isn't just about a specific election, it goes to health of our system. Regardless of what party we belong to, or what candidate we support, we all have a responsibility to ensure that no one is intimidated when going to vote.

Anyone claiming to be a poll watcher is not allowed to sit with the election district's hired poll workers, cannot touch election materials, cannot go to the voting machines during polling hours, and cannot challenge the status of would-be voters directly. Only the district workers can ask them questions.

Also, any electioneering has to be 100 feet or more from the outside entrance of the polling place. This means no campaign buttons, signs or campaign clothing within that distance, and no harassing or intimidating any voters, or causing any disturbance in the polling place.

In fact, it is a federal crime to conspire to deprive voters of a fair election. If anyone is harassing you or improperly interfering with your right to vote, you can ask an election board poll worker for assistance.

In Cumberland County, if you are experiencing any harassment at the polls, you can contact our county clerk's office at 856-453-4860, the county board of elections at 856-453-5801, or the national 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline to report the problem.

Tuesday is Election Day. Time to let your voice be heard.

Albert B. Kelly is mayor of Bridgeton.

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