Advocates seek to prevent acts of intimidation

BOISE, Idaho — Voting rights advocates and state officials are on high alert over fears that U. S. polling stations could attract the same strain of partisan violence and civil unrest that erupted on American streets this year, fueled by a deadly pandemic, outrage over police brutality and one of the most contentious elections ever.

Antigovernment extremists and other armed civilians have flocked to protests against racial injustice and COVID19 shutdowns. Paramilitary group members are accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan’s governor before the election. President Trump encouraged one farright extremist group to “stand back and stand by” and called for an army of “poll watchers” to keep tabs on polling places.

While gun rights advocates say fears of violence at the polls are unfounded, the toxic political atmosphere and the prospect of armed poll monitors have some worried it will keep voters from the polls and affect the election.

Trump has called for an army of “poll watchers” to go to the polls and “watch carefully.” Monitoring the votes at polling places is allowed in most states, but rules vary and it’s not a freeforall. States have established rules, in part, to avoid any hint that observers will harass or intimidate voters.

Some states and groups are preparing for that possibility.

In Minnesota, two advocacy groups have sued after a Tennesseebased company placed ads seeking military veterans to provide armed security at polling places and to provide security after the election to protect businesses and residents from “looting and destruction.”

On Friday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that hundreds of civilians will spread out across the city to report any instance of voter intimidation. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner opened a hotline that rings directly to his office’s prosecutors, who will send detectives to investigate reports of voter suppression or intimidation.

In Ohio, the League of Women Voters has been recruiting and training “peacekeeper teams” of clergy and social workers to deescalate any tensions at the polls. So far, 125 people have signed up.

“The thought is that when people see ministers with their clergy collars on, or with their stoles, people who are concerned about violence are more apt to be comforted — and the ones who might perpetrate the violence might maybe pull back little bit,” said the Rev. Dr. Susan Smith, one of the program trainers.

In Arizona, a coalition of voting rights groups has formed to dispatch volunteers trained to combat voter intimidation and misinformation efforts. The group, Election Protection Arizona, hopes to train 200 people to deploy to polls on election day and 100 more to monitor social media.

“Our poll volunteers are there to ensure everyone’s right to vote is protected regardless of who they are voting for,” said Muna Hijazi, the group’s organizing director.

Federal and state law enforcement officials are expanding preparations for the possibility of widespread unrest at the polls. FBI and local officials in several states have been conducting drills and setting up command centers.