A federal judge has barred the Republican Party from watching voters from the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.

A Republican testified that he was writing down the license plate numbers of cars carrying voters from the reservation to a polling place in Charles Mix County. But Joel C. Mandelman, a lawyer from the Washington, D.C., area said his activities did not stop anyone from voting.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Piersol issued a temporary restraining order sought by Sen. Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota). Daschle accused Republican John Thune of intimidating Indian voters.

Charles Mix County has a large Indian population but non-Indians make up the majority. In the 2002 Senate election and the recent special House election, Indian voters overwhelmingly chose Democratic candidates.

Areas of the county used to be considered part of the reservation but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that tribal lands were diminished.

Get the Story:
Judge orders GOP to halt poll tactics (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 11/2)
Judge Partially Grants Sen. Daschle Requst (AP 11/2)
Daschle files suit against GOP (AP 11/2)

Court Documents:
Temporary Restraining Order | Daschle Complaint | Daschle Brief | Minutes of Hearing

Relevant Links:
Sen. Tom Daschle - http://daschle.senate.gov
Tom Daschle, campaign site - http://www.tomdaschle.com
John Thune for US Senate - http://www.johnthune.com

Related Stories:
South Dakota Lakotas upset over Thune mailer (11/1)
Rapid City Journal: John Thune for U.S. Senate (10/29)
Daschle, Thune in virtual tie in final stretch (10/27)
South Dakota tribes send backing to Tom Daschle (10/22)
Chairman: Thune 'not very productive' on Indians (10/21)
Thune's record on Indian issues called non-existent (10/19)
Pat Robertson claims Indians 'not totally literate' (10/18)
South Dakota GOP workers sent to Bush campaign (10/15)
South Dakota GOP warns of possible irregularities (10/14)
Janklow accuses GOP vote program of 'cheating' (10/13)
South Dakota GOP under voter fraud investigation (10/12)
Indian vote in South Dakota still a hot item (10/11)
Russell Means helps open GOP office at Pine Ridge (10/11)
Thune campaign under probe for absentee ballots (10/08)
Pollster says Indian vote is critical in South Dakota (10/01)
Herseth the choice of Indians contacted for poll (9/30)
Daschle gains narrow lead over Thune in South Dakota (09/27)
Appeal planned in South Dakota voting rights case (09/17)
Judge: South Dakota violated Indian voting rights (9/16)
Native Vote 2004 to monitor voting in several states (09/13)
South Dakota GOP claims 2002 Senate election stolen (09/10)
Means says South Dakota GOP needs to do more (08/09)
South Dakota Indians wielding newfound influence (07/12)
Hearings set in response to Indian voter complaints (07/08)
Voter ID law seen as attempt to suppress Indian vote (7/7)
Tribal college president calls for repeal of ID law (7/2)
Indian voter complaints referred to authorities (6/29)
Group files suit over problems Indian voters faced (6/28)
Editorial: Indian vote hearings won't do any good (06/17)
Daschle seeks hearings over Indian voter problems (6/15)
S.D. ID law passed to 'turn Native voters down' (6/11)
Tom Daschle: Indian Country shows its clout (6/10)
Lawsuits planned for problems Indian voters faced (6/10)
South Dakota Indian vote doubled last week (6/7)
Republican admits Indian voters decided election (6/4)
Russell Means ready to give up on Republican Party (6/3)
Voting problems reported by South Dakota Indians (6/3)
Democrat Stephanie Herseth heads to House (6/2)