Trump Campaign: Volunteer to be a Trump Election Observer

[brooklynite]

Help Me Stop Crooked Hillary From Rigging This Election!

Please fill out this form to receive more information about becoming a volunteer Trump Election Observer.
Please ensure that the information you provide in this form matches your voter registration information.

https://www.donaldjtrump.com/lp/volunteer-to-be-a-trump-election-observer

I'd like to think that this is another scam to collect names for fund-raising, but I'm worried that self-appointed "election observers" could harass voters in November. I'm going to have to chat with some Party Chairs I know to see how they plan to respond.

[Happyhippychick]

1. We all need to do this, please kick and rec

[nolabear]

2. Um...people are going to get killed. This is voter suppression, pure and simple.

The police are going to find themselves in between "volunteers" and people attempting to vote, and it's going to discourage people from going to the polls. Someone needs to stop this.

[auntpurl]

5. Not in Philly, they won't be discouraged.

If it weren't for the threat of real gun violence, I would actually love to see some redneck from Altoona trying to prevent an AA grandmother in Philly from voting.

[nolabear]

7. I hope this gets massive attention and people organize.

And law enforcement steps in and says HELL NO. There are laws about this, aren't there?

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Please do and advise

Would my time be better spent running people to the polls in Bucks County PA and Hunterdon County NJ or working at the polling place?


Let them know a street fighter is asking.


We have her back.

[auntpurl]

4. My opinion: get people to the polls.

No way are rednecks from Altoona going to drive to Bucks County and harass rich voters. If they do it, it'll be in inner-city Philly...which I would actually love to see, if not for the threat of real violence. Remember, what Trump was talking about was black people, not wealthy suburbanites.

Disclaimer: I am not an election official so this is only my own humble opinion.

[Gothmog]

6. The RNC v. DNC consent decree will be invoked soon

Back in 1982, the RNC engaged in voter intimidation tactics and were sued by the DNC. A consent decree has been kept in effect since 1982 and will be invoked http://electionlawblog.org/?p=85289

In the consent decree, “The RNC agreed that the RNC, its agents, servants, and employees would be bound by the Decree, ‘whether acting directly or indirectly through other party committees.” Does Trump count as the RNC’s agent in these circumstances? They are certainly acting in concert, and it is plausible to argue that Trump and the RNC are agents of each other for purposes of this election. Also, the activity Trump is talking about engaging violate the consent decree? One thing the consent decree says is that they must:

(e) refrain from undertaking any ballot security activities in polling places or election districts where the racial or ethnic composition of such districts is a factor in the decision to conduct, or the actual conduct of, such activities there and where a purpose or significant effect of such activities is to deter qualified voters from voting; and the conduct of such activities disproportionately in or directed toward districts that have a substantial proportion of racial or ethnic populations shall be considered relevant evidence of the existence of such a factor and purpose…

If this activity violates the consent decree, the DNC can ask for it to be extended for up to another 8 years.

[MoonRiver]

8. Nice!

[nolabear]

10. Thanks for the info! This should be a huge story.

[no_hypocrisy]

9. They will be violating the law if they interfere with any voter attempting access to the polls.

Cross-post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512362662

There are poll watchers who are appointed and regulated. You just don't do "volunteer citizen" poll watching.

[Else You Are Mad]

11. This should be a major story, but...

If this gets any legs in the media, Trump will just say something racist or absurd to take over the news cycle until this is forgotten. That has been Trump's MO since the primaries.

No major Republican endorsed/showed up for Trump at the RNC -- Trump's wife plagiarized Mrs. Obama and that was all the media talked about.

Hillary gave an amazing and populist speech regarding her economic policies -- Trump calls to assassinate Hillary and that was all the media talked about.

Ad Nauseum.

[lapucelle]

12. Voter challenger (private poll watcher) laws vary from state to state.

https://www.supportthevoter.gov/files/2013/12/state-laws-polling-place-watchers-challengers-103012.pdf

I'm tempted to fill out the Trump form to see what the next steps are.

[MohRokTah]

14. HE told them to go vote, then go somewhere else to watch.

That's a direct violation of PA's poll watcher statutes.

[lapucelle]

15. What makes me think that Manafort or Roger Stone is engineering this tactic

is this proviso on the form:

"Please ensure that the information you provide in this form matches your voter registration information."

[GP6971]

13. K & R ! n/t

[Native]

16. I imagine have a CWP will be a requirement.

[monmouth4]

17. Voting Absentee should be appealing to all to avoid this..n/t

[niyad]

18. apparently, one actually has to make a donation to the campaign.