America votes

Interesting items from media articles and blogs on Election Day 2006, when turnout is high and Republicans are apparently trying to pass as Democrats.

The Post: Maryland Democrats decried the use of campaign fliers at some Prince George's County precincts that suggest that Gov. Robert Ehrlich and Senate candidate Michael Steele -- both Republicans -- are part of the Democratic ticket.

"It's incredibly misleading," said Rick Abbruzzese, a spokesman for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Martin O'Malley. "It's part of the misleading tactics the Republican Party has used throughout this campaign."

The ballots were handed out by people who said they arrived by buses this morning from Pennsylvania and Delaware. ...

Ehrlich campaigned in Prince George's County this morning, where copies of the controversial flier were being circulated outside some polling stations. The fliers, labeled "Ehrlich-Steele Democrats Official Voters Guide" included a "Democratic sample ballot" with the names of Ehrlich and Steele -- both Republicans -- checked off alongside several other Republicans and a host of Democrats for lesser office. Neither O'Malley nor Cardin are listed.

Fort Washington resident Barry Cyrus, 39, said he saw people passing out the ballots at his precinct, and met a first-time voter who was using the ballot to "vote for the Democratic party."

"She pulled out this sample ballot where Ehrlich and Steele were listed as Democrats. If I hadn't talked to her, she might have voted for them," said Cyrus, who said he stopped at five other polling places and saw the fliers being distributed at two of them. "People just need to be fair and not try to sway people with deception." ...

The Ehrlich and Steele campaigns yesterday acknowledged sending out an election-eve flier, sporting pictures of Johnson, his predecessor Wayne K. Curry and former NAACP president Kweisi Mfume. The mailer, declaring itself an "official voter guide" and criticized by Democrats, suggested the three Democrats backed Ehrlich and Steele. Curry has endorsed Steele; none has endorsed Ehrlich.

CNN: A poll worker was arrested Tuesday and charged with assault and interfering with an election for allegedly choking a voter and pushing the voter out the door, an official said.

Election officials called police, and the voter wanted to file charges, said Paula McCraney, a spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Clerk.

"That about tops off the day," McCraney said.

It wasn't immediately clear what sparked the altercation. The name of the poll worker was not released and a Louisville police spokesman did not immediately return calls seeking comment. ...

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford probably wishes he checked his pockets before heading out the door this morning.

Sanford was turned away from his polling place as cameras were rolling because he forgot his voter registration card. Sanford went to vote at Sullivan Island Elementary School near his family home, but the photo-op went awry as the governor began looking though his wallet. "I don't have the blue card with me," he said.

Smiling sheepishly, Sanford called home to get the numbers, but officials told him he had to present the card itself. Sanford then went to a nearby voter registration office to be issued a new card, and finally was able to cast his ballot.

"This is want you want," Sanford said, praising the workers for doing their job. "I admire her; she's being conscientious."

ABC: ABC News' Jason Ryan Reports: The Virginia Board of Elections has confirmed to ABC News that the FBI is looking into claims of voter intimidation and polling place misdirection surrounding the bruising Senate race there.

ABC News has obtained an audio wave file of a phone message left for resident and registered Virginia voter Tim Daly in which the caller claims to be from the Virginia Bd of Elections and informs Daly that he is not registered in VA and that if he shows up at the polls to vote he would be criminally prosecuted.

The James Webb Senate campaign is claiming that voters are being misdirected to the wrong polling stations.

GOP state spokesman Shawn Smith told ABC News that the Virginia GOP and the Friends of George Allen committee "are only engaging in activities encouraging supporters to vote." He said was skeptical of the claims being made but said he would nonetheless condemn such activities if they are being conducted by outside organizations.

On a bright note, Board of Elections analyst Clay Landa reports to the AP that turnout could reach 65% and there have been no reported problems with touch screen voting.

MSNBC: Here in the Buckeye State, the focus is not so much on the individual races but on the voting process, which was beset by problems during the 2004 presidential election. Already today, issues have been reported around the state with electronic voting machines, optical scanners, long lines and voter identification.

Two Republican House members reportedly encountered difficulties at their respective polling stations. U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot was said to be turned away for not having proper identification, and Rep. Jean Schmidt could not get the scanner to accept her ballot.