When Poll-Watching Crosses the Line
I am feeling there will be lots of problems come November. It is a good article.
When Poll-Watching Crosses the Line
In years of organizing vote-monitoring efforts around the country, I have seen firsthand how volunteer “challengers” can intimidate and harass even the most seasoned poll workers and voters.
By Jocelyn Benson
August 25, 2016
As we near another historic presidential election, the fog of anxiety about the election is returning on a scale we haven’t seen in decades.
Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that the general election may be “rigged” nationwide.
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But in nearly a decade of organizing vote-monitoring efforts around the country, I have seen firsthand how volunteer monitors—often positioned as “challengers” at the polls—can intimidate and harass even the most seasoned poll workers and voters, interfere with the process, delay voting, and potentially alter the election’s outcome.
Since 2000, when voting irregularities in Florida cast a pall over the entire presidential election, election monitoring has steadily increased in scope and sophistication. And this November, there will likely be more observers in polling places than ever before.
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Though it’s not a federal law, every state in the nation (except West Virginia) allows citizen monitors to be present in polling locations on election day—typically, at least one monitor from each party. In most states, they can’t talk to voters or watch how people vote, but they can see who votes, and report irregularities to outside authorities.
When done properly, election observers operate under a simple principle: Do no harm. They arrive at a polling place with knowledge of the law. Their primary intention is to observ..................
This type of election monitoring is healthy. And in 2016, it’s especially important—for a few big reasons.
First, it is unprecedented that a major-party nominee would question the credibility of the election outcome months in advance. ......................
Second, November 2016 will be the first presidential vote in 50 years without the guarantee of federal election observers to protect voters from discrimination and intimidation........................
Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/08/poll-election-monitor-challengers-vote-laws-watchers-214189#ixzz4IWYUnxc0
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