Kalamazoo County’s top election official says he doesn’t expect issues with voter harassment on election day. But he says if anyone does intimidate voters, election officials will put a stop to it.
Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump has urged supporters to go to the polls to watch for signs of vote fraud. That’s raised concerns about the potential for harassment. Further complicating things, in Michigan voters with the right permits can legally bring their guns to the polls.
Kalamazoo City Clerk Scott Borling says if poll watchers show up with guns, the city will have to consider whether that amounts to harassment.
“I’d be talking with our city attorney and I’d have to look at the – the facts of the individual situation and see what course of action if any needs to be taken,” Borling says.
Arms aside, poll watchers have to follow a number of rules. If they’re inside the precinct they can’t talk to voters. Exit pollsters have to stand a distance from the polling place and can only talk to people who have already voted. Election challengers can question a person’s eligibility to vote, but they have to apply more than two weeks before election day.
Kalamazoo County Clerk Tim Snow says precinct leaders keep an eye on their surroundings. He says if someone’s causing problems, normally the first step is to call the local clerk.
“But if it gets so that it becomes a little bit more dangerous, they’re always instructed to – don’t necessarily call the clerk. Call 911, deal with the issue,” he says.
Snow says that posting police to polling places to prevent harassment is a bad idea, because a law enforcement presence can itself be intimidating.
