I am deeply concerned about an email that is being circulated by
Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ that
claims there is an effort in the State of Ohio "to place Republican
recruits inside polling places in Ohio to challenge "suspicious"
voters" and then to suggest "this is racial profiling at its most
insidious level".

I was recruited and have volunteered to be a Polling Monitor by the
Republican Party. In the recruitment and training of poll monitors, I
never once heard any suggestion that would imply that minority and
disabled voters were to be identified, targeted or profiled. In fact,
the focus is to be non-partisan and to offer assistance by ensuring
that equipment is functioning (i.e. light bulbs, phones, voting
devices), ensuring sufficient election supplies, monitoring for
loitering or illegal campaigning and assisting poll workers if
necessary. In the recruitment of polling inspectors, it was
communicated to me that the goal was to have at least one inspector
at every polling location if enough people could be recruited.

As you know, Ohio law assures that elections be conducted in an open
and accessible manner and provides for public witness of polling
activities. While the Justice and Witness email claims to be non-
partisan, it fails to note that both Democrats and Republicans are
being recruited to monitor polling activity. Also, according to news
reports, there are two lawsuits that have been filed alleging the
same racial profiling charge - yet nothing has been substantiated by
the courts to support the allegation.

As a person of faith, I am offended that my denomination has
circulated this allegation without any reference to facts and it is
plainly dishonest to circulate unsubstantiated allegations in the
name of the Church. Until more information is presented, these
allegations should be offensive to all people of faith.

Regards,

James Hutchins