INDIAN WELLS — Republican Party officials presented a plan to a national membership meeting here that would place poll watchers at key precincts on election day and discussed a range of proposals from GOP congressional leaders that seek to tighten federal laws on voter registration.
The GOP's so-called "ballot integrity" plans were outlined during closed-door sessions at the Republican National Committee meeting and contained in a 17-page memorandum obtained by The Times. When told of the proposal, Democrats vowed to fight any legislation they believe would intimidate citizens from voting, including having them present a photo ID before casting a ballot.
For many in Orange County, the proposed poll watchers would be reminiscent of the uniformed security guards that the GOP stationed outside voting sites in Assemblyman Curt Pringle's district on election day in 1988. Republicans ended up paying $400,000 to settle a civil lawsuit brought by several Latinos outraged by the incident.
California Republicans say they are mindful of the political firestorm that would undoubtedly be created by calling for tighter scrutiny at polling places, let alone wide-scale alterations in voter registration and balloting rules.
"What we do has to be done tactfully, tastefully and properly from a legal perspective," said Rich Lambros, executive director of the state GOP, speaking of a national party directive to recruit poll watchers nationwide.
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The state party has not decided whether to implement the national plan, he said, which still must be considered by each state before it is approved at the local level. Latinos and others are still upset with the party for its role in endorsing several successful ballot initiatives that are widely perceived as harmful to minorities.
Democrats are eager to capitalize on the proposal, saying it limits a centuries-long national ideal of expanding voting rights to all and making it as convenient as possible to cast ballots.
"The problem is too few people voting," said Bob Mulholland, political advisor to the California Democratic Party. "My God, photo IDs, that is ridiculous. The Republicans have to remember what that is symbolic of. . . . People did this in the South before the '60s. That is a terrible message to send to minorities."
While the Republican National Committee held an open debate Friday over whether to withhold money for GOP candidates who do not oppose late-term abortions, ultimately deciding against such a proposal, its discussions of "ballot integrity" took place behind closed doors.
