The Attorneys General of Three Battleground States held a News Conference on, Tuesday Oct. 6th, to Warn People being Recruited as Unofficial Poll Watchers that they will be Prosecuted if they try to Intimidate Voters, Violently or Otherwise, and Not have Authorization Documents from their Political Party.
The Three Officials, Elected Democrats from: Michigan; Nevada; and Wisconsin, said Trump’s Call during the First Debate for his Supporters to “go into the polls and watch very carefully” was a Clear Attempt to Encourage Harassment of Voters. They Noted that when Trump made similar Remarks during the 2016 Presidential Campaign, he added: “And when I say ‘watch,’ you know what I’m talking about. Right?’”
“I heard it loud and clear: It was a dog whistle for voter intimidation,” the Attorney General of Nevada, Aaron Ford, said. “We know what he’s trying to do, and we won’t stand for it.”
The News Conference, Staged by the Advocacy Groups Let America Vote and United Against Gun Violence, followed Scattered Claims of Voter Intimidation as Early Voting began in States Nationwide.
Election Officials in Fairfax County, VA, just Outside Washington, Escorted, some Voters last Month, Past a Crowd of Flag-Waving Pro-Trump Protesters outside One Polling Place.
After Trump singled out Philadelphia in his Debate Remarks on Watching the Polls, City Officials Ordered a Plan for Handling Intimidation. Trump Campaign Workers later caused a Stir by trying to enter a Satellite Election Office in the City against Local Rules.
The Three Attorneys General, however, did Not cite Indications that any Specific Groups were Planning to cause Disturbances. Rather, “we are seeing the effort to recruit poll watchers and challengers with language that is different from what we’re used to seeing,” the Attorney General of Michigan, Dana Nessel, said.
The Officials nevertheless said they would Cooperate with State and Local Law-Enforcement in Monitoring Polls for Problems, and Ms. Nessel said her Office was reviewing State Laws Regulating carrying Firearms around Polls.
Some Right-Wing Groups that Claim to be Recruiting Volunteers to Scout Polls for Voter Fraud have Cast their Efforts this Fall in Apocalyptic Terms. In a recent Video, one of them, True the Vote, warned Viewers that “the Marxist playbook is not about winning an election. It is about ending them altogether.”
The Attorney General of Wisconsin, Josh Kaul, Dismissed Charges by Trump that the Vote would be Rigged, saying Voting in his State was “a safe and secure process.” “It’s important for people to know that the statements the president is making about the integrity of our elections are absolutely false,” he said. “It’s also important for people to know that intimidating voters to try to prevent them form casting a ballot is illegal.”
Added Ford, “My son said to me the other day: 'Maybe the best thing folks should do is vote and mind their business.', I’m encouraging folks to do exactly that.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
