'intimidating American Indian voters': judge says Stop! (sort of)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-eln-senate-lawsuit,1,2931169,print.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

Judge Partially Grants Sen. Daschle Requst
By CARSON WALKER
Associated Press Writer

12:55 AM PST, November 2, 2004

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A federal judge partially granted Democratic U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle's request to limit the activities of Republican poll watchers, after he accused his opponent and the GOP of intimidating American Indian voters.

The decision early Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol applies only to voters in Charles Mix County. Traditionally, Indians in South Dakota vote heavily Democratic.

As part of the ruling, Republican poll watchers are prohibited from following American Indian voters out of polling places. They are also prohibited from taking down the license plate numbers of American Indians' vehicles.

Daschle took his Republican opponent, the South Dakota Republican Party and GOP election observers to court late Monday, alleging intimidation of American Indian voters. He asked for a temporary restraining order to prevent Republicans from doing anything that would "harass, intimidate or discourage voters."

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"The decision early Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol applies only to voters in Charles Mix County."