Five “dirty tricks” to watch out for when you go vote

In political parlance, they're called "dirty tricks" - ways some people try to get others to not vote.  These voter-suppression tricks usually involve misinformation or intimidation tactics and play on voter ignorance of voting laws. 

With the help of Allen Raymond, author of "How to Rig an Election" we've compiled a list of five ways people may try to get you not to vote on Election Day.   Raymond should know - he was a dirty trickster. As a Republican campaign adviser he helped stop a Democratic get-out-the-vote operation, a trick that landed him in jail when he plead guilty to one count of conspiring to make harassing phone calls. 

As voter suppression horror stories are being reported, here's a list of sneaky tricks and hurdles to avoid on Tuesday:

1. A notice that says, "Only one political party votes on Tuesday. The other party votes on Wednesday."
There have already been reports of this one happening during early voting in Virginia. This version of the flyer said an "emergency regulation" was adopted by the Virginia General Assembly saying all Democratic supporters vote on Wednesday.  Don't believe this flyer or anything like it. It's not true. 

2. A notice that says, "Due to the rain, the election is postponed until next week."
This is an easy one to believe, because who wants to stand in the rain to do anything? But don't fall for it. Even if it's snowing where you are at, the election is happening on Tuesday, November 4th.

3. An official-looking guy stands outside the polling place saying, "You have to pay overdue parking tickets or you can't vote."
Not true. The Constitution is on your side here. Raymond points out that paying parking tickets in exchange for a ballot amounts to a poll tax - and that violates your rights as spelled out in the 24th amendment to the Constitution.

4. Election officials tell college students they can't vote.
It doesn't matter where you grew up or if your parents claim you as a dependent.  If you have established residency at your college and are registered to vote in that location, you have a right to vote there. (You can't vote at both home and school. That's illegal.)  This type of voter misinformation has been documented twice already. In one case, the officials say they interpreted the law wrong.  In the other, voter guidelines were clarified. At any rate, in 1979 the Supreme Court affirmed students have a right to vote where they live. If that's at college, go vote.

5. You hear a rumor: "If your house was foreclosed on, you can't vote."
This also is not true - with a caveat.  You needed to reregister to vote showing your new address.  If you didn't reregister and you are still in the same neighborhood, you may be OK. At least, ask to cast a provisional ballot so election officials can verify you are still eligible in that precinct. However, if you moved from one state to the other and didn't reregister, Raymond says you are probably out of luck.