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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow is this legal?
These pro-Trump volunteers would conduct an exit poll of voters in Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Milwaukee, Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte, Richmond, and Fayetteville, asking voters to reveal their (secret) ballot decisions after they voted. They idea is that if their answers do not match up with final results for those precincts, Stone would use that to buttress claims of a rigged election.
https://thinkprogress.org/roger-stone-trump-exit-poll-78929bae20e6#.yespld2yd
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)State election laws determine what sorts of activities can be carried on in or within a specified distance from polling places.
But are you seriously wondering whether it is "legal" to stand in a public place and ask people questions?
There's nothing illegal about that, per se.
If it escalates to any form of voter intimidation, that is of course illegal.
Media and polling organizations conduct exit polls all of the time. It's not as if that is some kind of unlawful activity.
Iggo
(47,558 posts)Bucky
(54,013 posts)There might be technically legal ways to do this. I imagine Clinton's lawyer corps is all over this, but responsive democratic (small d) street action may be required.
I may need to take the day off from work Election Day and see about countering any of this crap if goes on in Houston. Thanks for posting it!
meadowlark5
(2,795 posts)No one needs to check in with polling volunteers or alert anyone to their presence?
When exit polls are conducted and we see those results posted as election day goes on, are those just people, anyone that stands at the door asking who voters voted for? They're more reputable than that.
I guess my main question is, why would anyone take the results of an exit poll done by someone like Roger Stone who's candidate has been crying about rigged elections as accurate information gathered to challenge an election result.
Retrograde
(10,137 posts)one can conduct political activities, and IMHO this includes polling or otherwise accosting voters. In my state, it's 100 feet: past that, special interest groups and others can harangue, interview, accost, hand out fliers, scream, shout, do an interpretive dance for their candidates and it's all legal. (Assuming it happens on a public street or sidewalk or with the consent of the property owner). And voters have the right to tell them to STFU. On two occasions I even went in the polling place to complain when I thought they were too close as well as blocking the sidewalk, but they had it measured to the inch.
I've never seen a real political pollster, especially an exit poller. The few non-political ones I've met have always identified the organization they were working for. As to why someone would take the results of a pro-Trump poll over actual election results - the words "confirmation bias" come to mind.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Who said "at the door of a polling place"?
Typically, if you are not going there to vote, or leaving after voting, then you must stay a fixed distance - 100 feet in my state - from the door.
Can you ask questions of people in public? Yes of course you can.
I guess my main question is, why would anyone take the results of an exit poll done by someone like Roger Stone who's candidate has been crying about rigged elections as accurate information gathered to challenge an election result.
There are no state laws in which exit polls can be used to challenge an election result.
If you mean "challenge" as in, make noise in the media, then, no, you don't have to trust Roger Stone.
meadowlark5
(2,795 posts)but I wouldn't put it past Trump and his campaign of thugs to try and take it to another level in whatever way they can. Not because they can win anything and not that they can even get anywhere, just to further smear the voting process. A paranoid base and an angry base are faithful and loyal. Even if Trump's lawyers have no jurisdiction in an election, I could totally see Trump trying to do it anyway. Just for the knuckle draggers that loved him so much during this shit show of an election.
meadowlark5
(2,795 posts)misterhighwasted
(9,148 posts)Or tell them you voted for the "blueberry muffin, or a pancake"
F the nosey people. Your vote is your own.
meadowlark5
(2,795 posts)I'm sure they won't be wearing any Trump identification because they want an answer *after* they vote. Most people of color would probably steer clear of anyone Trump related trying to ask them a question at a polling place.
misterhighwasted
(9,148 posts)Its my right.
That's all.
Ford_Prefect
(7,901 posts)csziggy
(34,136 posts)Source: Talking Points Memo
By TIERNEY SNEED Published OCTOBER 20, 2016, 12:09 PM EDT
Fearful that a decades-old court order blocking the Republican Party from engaging in certain Election Day activities could be extended for many more years, the RNC is warning its members not to engage in poll watching or any other so-called "ballot security" measures.
The RNC's concerns are heightened because of the vigilante poll watching GOP nominee Donald Trump has been calling for from the stump.
A lawyer for the Republican National Committee sent a letter on the issue Wednesday to RNC members, the Wall Street Journal reported. The letter cites a 1982 consent decree the RNC agreed to after Democrats sued it for activities at polling places that they said were aimed at suppressing the minority vote.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rnc-warns-against-poll-watching-citing-decades-old-court-agreement
From DonViejo's post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1602622
Ben Ginsberg discussed the decree after the debate: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc-news/watch/trump-starting-a-grievance-movement-789738563635
Gothmog
(145,289 posts)
(e) refrain from undertaking any ballot security activities in polling places or election districts where the racial or ethnic composition of such districts is a factor in the decision to conduct, or the actual conduct of, such activities there and where a purpose or significant effect of such activities is to deter qualified voters from voting; and the conduct of such activities disproportionately in or directed toward districts that have a substantial proportion of racial or ethnic populations shall be considered relevant evidence of the existence of such a factor and purpose
If this activity violates the consent decree, the DNC can ask for it to be extended for up to another 8 years.
csziggy
(34,136 posts)Thank you!
lpbk2713
(42,757 posts)But what gets turned in at the end of the visit is entirely up to the pollster.
These sleazebags have proven several times over they can't be trusted.
meadowlark5
(2,795 posts)if the the state allows open carry. I'm guessing that too would be legal as long as the weapon isn't taken inside the polling place.
Maybe a deterrent for voting at all.
Thor_MN
(11,843 posts)In Minnesota, it's 100 feet away from the polling place, except if it's public property (most of the places I know of are) it's off the property. So good luck in exit polling when the parking lots are included in the off limits area.