What's the supposed reason for calling for "poll watchers"? I mean, obviously...

[Beartracks]

... intimidation could be the real intent, and indeed a bunch of red-hat militia goobers are just gonna be exhibiting a faux-patriot righteousness that could make other voters uncomfortable. But is the PURPORTED reason that they are supposed to "catch voter fraud"? What exactly is it that these trained, discerning professionals think they'll be looking for: someone showing up at the polls with a box of photocopied ballots? Several people standing in one polling booth? Someone dumping Trump ballots in a creek behind the building? The whole "poll watching" thing is stupid on its face.

================

[calimary]

1. Intimidation. Remember: their would-be boss wants domination.

Last edited Thu Oct 1, 2020, 12:21 AM - Edit history (1)

And will demand nothing less.

[Beartracks]

3. Perhaps so. I'm still looking for pretense but, really, Republicans have pretty much dropped it all.

[Statistical]

2. Like you said it is for intimidation.

Trump is looking for chaos and violence at the polling locations. It gets on the news maybe some people decide it isn't worth voting. Everything he does is about disenfranchisement. It is why he talks about mail in ballots not being counted. Well if they don't count them no reason to vote right? It is why he talks about not "allowing" a transfer of power. If he is going to stay anyways guess there is no reason to vote right?

All of it is about disenfranchisement. If people vote he will lose. It really is that simple.

[octoberlib]

4. The Tea Party did the same thing. Remember True the Vote?

The Tea Party just morphed into MAGAts and QAnon.

[2naSalit]

11. +1

[beachbumbob]

5. A bunch of white folks in pickup trucks with weapons sitting in

close proximity in black precincts polling places is all about intimidation. If the authorities do not do something, then it defaults to the people.

[C_U_L8R]

6. They aren't watchers, they are interrupters and obstructors

And they should be arrested the second they cause any shit at the polls.

[Iliyah]

7. Scare Democrats and Indies who favor voting for Democrats . . .

into not going to the polls to vote.

[gratuitous]

8. Sowing confusion and fear (but we all know that)

There are actual people who are designated as "poll watchers," but Trump is trying to muddy the waters about that by anointing his demented, violent followers as poll watchers. They are, of course, nothing of the sort, and Trump is encouraging them to fan out across the country and intimidate voters if they can. That's the real reason Trump hates vote-by-mail; you can't send a goon squad to every house in a Democratic dominant precinct, but it's far easier to sent four or five haters to a neighborhood school or church and try to cow voters.

[stillcool]

9. They challenge someone's right to vote..

this site has a pdf. that shows each state and the rules for poll-watchers.
State Laws on Authorized Poll Watchers & Voter Challenges

https://www.nass.org/resources/2018-election-information/Poll-Watchers-Voter-Challenges
this is MA

The state committee of a political party may appoint a person to act as
a challenger of voters at any polling place in the commonwealth at a
state election (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 54, § 85A). To achieve the legal
requirement that the election be held in public view, observers shall be
allowed inside the polling place, outside the guard rail, unless they are
disorderly or obstruct the access of voters. Observers may keep notes
including marked voting lists. If there are so many observers in the
polling place that they obstruct voters, they may be asked to
cooperate in collecting information. The warden may exclude from the
polling place any person who is disorderly or who obstructs the access
of voters. (950 C.M.R. § 54.04(22a).
Any election officer or other person may challenge a person's
right to vote for any legal cause (Massachusetts Secretary of State
Election Day Legal Summary).

[Historic NY]

10. Poll watchers...

I was tasked back in 2008 election to be an observer for the NY Senate. Unfortunately we have a enclave here that needed extra help. The team found we had Republican poll watchers set up and were questioning voters..... Well being polite didn't work but calling the BoE did they sent the Sheriffs to make them pack up and leave. Lets just say it was an experience.


It was the first time electronic machines were used but only by those with disabilities.

[Ms. Toad]

12. Nothing nefarious about poll watchers. They are called different things -

But I've been an observer (what they are called in Ohio) for the last 3 presidential elections, and plan to be one again this time.

They are appointed on behalf of the presidential candidate - generally - to ensure that things run smoothly. So (formally, Barack Obama appointed me twice and Hillary Clinton once.) We're trained to note when things are wrong (e.g. when voters are being given bad information, when the Democratic pollworker steps away without a replacement leaving the Republican pollworker the only one in place, to assist voters in getting to the right precinct, figuring out why they aren't on the roster, etc., and to note missing voters so we can do a last minute get-out-the vote effort).

Democrats have always (in contested states) at least had a full complement of observers. Republicans have generally not. They may be waking up to the reality that they should have observers.

[frazzled]

13. Poll watchers from each party have been standard procedure

since forever. The laws differ by state. It’s usually one or two per candidate for a polling place, and they usually must be approved in advance by the election commissioner.

I have worked on Democratic campaigns in which the campaign sent poll watchers to select precincts insure integrity. But in some places (e.g. Florida), they’ve been known to try to disenfranchise people by issuing a contest to an official poll worker. They can’t deny someone themselves, only contest. And check that the polling place is operating according to rules and counting votes properly.

Here’s an explanation:

https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/29/politics/poll-watchers-monitors/index.html

[Cosmocat]

24. THIS

You can't just show up at a poll and demand to watch it.

You have to register to watch it ahead of time.

He is moron, but even he is not stupid enough to get that concept.

He is asking people to storm the polls and cause havoc for the sake of causing havoc and to point to it as proof that the election is not legitimate.

[hedda_foil]

14. Agent Orange wasn't talking about official poll watchers/observers who are formally appointed.

He's calling for mobs of his bully boys to intimidate Democratic voters in order to frighten away as many voters of color as possible while making the wait time longer as they interfere in the process. They're not legally allowed to be there in any state.

A limited number of officially appointed and trained poll watchers (generally at most three per party per precinct) are legally permitted to "WATCH" but not interfere with the voting process inside the polling place.

[ProfessorGAC]

16. If People Let Those Punks Intimidate, They Win

They don't know who is voting for whom.
After one votes, they don't know for whom one voted.
They have no power, so their only goal is to be scary.
But, if people just pay them no mind, they lose.
Worrying about them is what they want. Why help them win?

[hedda_foil]

18. They generally install themselves at polling places in African American/Latinx neighborhoods.

It's pretty obvious that the intent is voter suppression and it's been effective forever. Remember the Consent Decree under the Voting Rights Act that forced Republicans in 17 (I believe) states to file for Justice Department pre-approval of any changes to their election laws to determine if they were legally permitted? The Supremes reversed Section 4 of the VRA that governed race based voter suppression in 1913 in Shelby County vs. Holder. So it's no longer illegal on a Federal basis but states control voting in their jurisdictions and state laws bar voter intimidation/suppression at the polls. The solution -- at least partially -- is to notify the official Democratic poll watchers or poll workers at the polling place or the local party headquarters to get an attorney or the police to come out and handle the situation.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. I Know

But, I think ignoring them needs to be learned.
Just letting them intimidate is what they want. There's nothing gained by letting them win.

[hedda_foil]

21. Yes, Professor, and as an older white guy you could easily do that, but they won't bother with you.

Think about the threats that can be made against people of color. What if you were hispanic and your wife or brother or mom had been living here undocumented since 1990? What if the bully boys threatened to call ICE to question you?

[ProfessorGAC]

22. Where Do They Get That Info?

They're not plugged into systems for background checks.
Sorry Hedda, that seems a bit paranoid.
Worrying about what they'd do with information they don't have?
This is exactly what I'm talking about.
Your suggesting finding a chink to fret, intimidating one's self.
That's not a logical fear.
It's closer to phobic.

[hedda_foil]

23. They don't need to have the info. Simply threatening ICE will send multiple people in line away.

Emotional reactions are NOT logical but may be realistic.

[ProfessorGAC]

26. So We Surrender?

That's the best option?

[hedda_foil]

29. To watch zealously for these freaks and notify the official Democratic poll watchers or workers.

You and I aren't going to get bothered. I'm an older white woman. It's our job to notify the people in charge and make sure they stop the interference. If they can't, they should call the appropriate number to ask for help. It wouldn't hurt to call your local Dem organization in advance to find out what their plans are for stopping people who are trying to scare voters away or slow the polling place lines. Get the number of your County Democratic organization and be ready to call them if need be. Or print out the pdf here for Illinois https://866ourvote.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IL_Top-Issues-March-2020-3-4-FINAL3.pdf. Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to get help from the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights. Call the same number from other states and they'll connect you to the appropriate help line too,.

That's how we can help.

[ProfessorGAC]

30. Perfectly Willing & Ready

But, I think another way to help is to send the message that steeling one's self to the artificial threat is essential.
We can do both.

[Cosmocat]

25. Correct AND

to point to the chaos as a rationale for why the election is not legitimage.

[ananda]

15. That's code for destroy and intimidate.

...

[0rganism]

17. there is no "supposed" reason or pretense anymore

it's all about intimidation, transparently so.

anyone paying attention sees this for what it is.

hell, your OP shows it clearly - your question wasn't about the actual purpose but rather the excuse used to whitewash the situation for the general public but they aren't even bothering with that masquerade anymore

[Beartracks]

31. You're right. I replied to another poster in the thread already that, out of habit, I...

... was looking for the pretense that Republicans would use for this "poll-watching" tactic, since they used to have some sort of pretense for all their bullshit, but then I remembered that they dropped all pretense quite some time ago. I guess my OP is moot.

===========

[0rganism]

33. moot, perhaps, but still an interesting topic

a full unmasking of a major political party like this is a rare event and worth noticing and pondering
i'll happily k&r

[marlakay]

19. I think i am glad my state is mail only

I always drive to drop box at county clerks office. Never had a problem.

[frazzled]

28. They have observers too, the equivalent of poll watchers

Each party appoints observers to oversee the processing (matching signatures and verifying registration) and counting of ballots. It’s the exact same thing.

[Hekate]

27. Intimidation, pure and simple

[Beartracks]

32. So: no pretense. Republicans got tired trying to keep up charades all the time. n/t