Voter Intimidation

[graylocks]

i heard reports of Trump calling for poll watchers yesterday and when I saw this headline on my google news page Trump: I'll Only Lose With 'Cheating,' Asks Supporters To Watch Polling Places my first thought, particularly as an african american, was wow, that could lead to serious voter intimidation. turns out that is exactly what the news report was saying.

the thought of some Trump supporters patrolling the polls is not a pretty picture. add in open carry states and this thing can get completely out of hand. this is getting scary.

[$tevie]

Especially since many of Trump's supporters appear to be as unhinged as their candidate. Seriously worrisome turn of events.

[OWC Jamie]

[graylocks]

billb wrote:

wow. does privilege make you completely blind as to how problematic trump's call is?

[davester]

graylocks wrote:
the thought of some Trump supporters patrolling the polls is not a pretty picture. add in open carry states and this thing can get completely out of hand. this is getting scary.

Ya think?

wikipedia wrote:
German federal election, March 1933
The 1933 election followed the previous year's two elections (July and November) and Hitler's appointment as Chancellor. In the months before the 1933 election, brownshirts and SS displayed "terror, repression and propaganda [...] across the land",[1]:339 and Nazi organizations "monitored" the vote process https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_fed...March_1933

[SteveO]

Jesus H Christ. I can see this turning into something horrid.

Aside from that...

billb you are way out of line and the level of insensitivity you just put on display is both disgusting and disturbing. We have rules here, yes, and perhaps you did not violate them in letter but you certainly did in spirit...there are also moral and ethical rules of decent human behavior and you have clearly disregarded them.

[bfd]

dimbillb blinks out again…

[$tevie]

davester wrote:
[quote=graylocks]
the thought of some Trump supporters patrolling the polls is not a pretty picture. add in open carry states and this thing can get completely out of hand. this is getting scary.

Ya think?

wikipedia wrote:
German federal election, March 1933
The 1933 election followed the previous year's two elections (July and November) and Hitler's appointment as Chancellor. In the months before the 1933 election, brownshirts and SS displayed "terror, repression and propaganda [...] across the land",[1]:339 and Nazi organizations "monitored" the vote process https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_fed...March_1933

The comparison is apt, but sadly we need venture no farther than the deep south during the sixties to find precedence.

[Ombligo]

It would also potentially be illegal based upon a 1982 SCOTUS decision in Republican National Committee vs. Democratic National Committee. The case dealt with a consent decree issued in 1982 that prevents the RNC from engaging in some voter fraud prevention efforts without prior court consent. It specifically said the RNC could not engage in ballot security efforts (later defined in 1987 as “ballot integrity, ballot security or other efforts to prevent or remedy vote fraud,” according to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit opinion), especially in areas where racial or ethnic makeup could be considered a reason for the activities.

THE RNC asked to have the court order lifted last January based on it's ongoing compliance since 1982, the denied the request. The order has an expiration date of 12/1/17 unless it is violated - in that case it is extended for another eight years.

Of course laws, rulings and legal findings don't matter to the Trumpatillo.

[hal]

I'm not worried about the RNC monitoring the polls, it's roving gangs of Trump supporters taking it upon themselves to answer the call of their leader that worries me.