With the 2016 presidential election just days away, we thought it would be important to discuss a relevant issue: voter intimidation. So first, here is a little background.
Voter Intimidation Consent Decree
Barriers to voting did not end in the 1960s. In fact, it was in the 1980’s that the Republican Party was placed under a court order in the form of a consent decree, prohibiting voter intimidation. But, what exactly is “voter intimidation,” you may ask. Under U.S. Code § 594, voter intimidation is described as someone who “intimidates, threatens, coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other person to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for the office of President.” This essentially means any group or people that try to influence voting behavior through intimidation tactics.
The consent decree led to the agreement with the Republican Party to end vote watching practices. Or so, it was supposed to.
Now, Donald Trump has revived the practice assembling groups of people to monitor voting sites in violation of federal law. These groups have no such authority. In fact, the DNC recently charged that the RNC was in violation of the consent decree “by supporting and enabling the efforts of the Republican candidate for President, Donald J. Trump, as well as his campaign and advisors, to intimidate and discourage minority voters from voting in the 2016 Presidential Election.”
As you go vote
As you place your vote in the coming week, remember that voting is a hard fought right. You are not required to submit ID to persons not authorized to request it.
If you feel intimidated, then make your concerns known to law enforcement, precinct chairs or other voting rights groups. No one should be intimidated during voting.
We’ll leave you with this thought: In the election of 1981, the RNC had off-duty officers policing the polls in minority neighborhoods wearing arm bands suggesting that they were a ballot security task force. Warning posters were also set up questioning if genuinely eligible voting citizens were actually eligible to vote.
These scare tactics have no place in our democratic republic. You may be strong enough to stand up to these illegal tactics but others may need your help. Often vulnerable groups are easy prey to intimidation and bullying. Please keep your eyes and ears open to ensure all persons eligible to vote are free from harassment.
As Americans, it is our birth right to publicly engage in vigorous debate. Our disagreements are settled by elections not wars. Equal access to voting ensures peace and stability for all our citizens. No matter who you support in the election, please help preserve the integrity of voting.