2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumRNC Asks Members to Avoid Poll Watching, Other ‘Ballot Security’ Activities
The RNC is under a consent decree that restricts the RNC from certain activities. The RNC is now getting worried that Trump's poll watcher program will violate that consent decree http://www.wsj.com/articles/rnc-asks-members-to-avoid-poll-watching-other-ballot-security-activities-1476925215
As part of a 1982 settlement in a lawsuit brought by Democrats, the RNC agreed to curb its efforts to monitor and challenge voter eligibility at the polls, especially in districts where the racial or ethnic composition of the electorate could be a factor in the outcome.
RNC general counsel John Ryder wrote to members on Wednesday to remind you of the restrictions placed on the RNC by the consent decree.
The RNC membership is made up of 168 state party representatives, three from each state and territory.
Trump's planned poll watcher activity will violate this decree unless Trump trains his poll watchers and these poll watchers resist their inclination to suppress the vote. Neither of these events are likely
misterhighwasted
(9,148 posts)Just asking since I cannot access the full article without subscribing to the WSJ.
Does the WSJ article say what happens if the RNC breaks this decree?
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Gothmog
(145,353 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.
MineralMan
(146,318 posts)pay any attention to this. There will be a few in some places who are going to show up at polling places, exercising their "open carry" rights. Probably not many, but some. Real law enforcement officers are going to be needed, I'm certain.
The GOP has zero control over the actions of armed Trumpeters. There will be isolated instances of real trouble over this, I'm certain.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)anamandujano
(7,004 posts)shows up with a gun. In this way they will know they are being watched and suffer the consequences of any trouble they might cause.
NoGoodNamesLeft
(2,056 posts)I wish I saved the link...but he was harassing and filming her and literally chasing her to her car. He was accusing her of telling people to vote for Clinton.
Trump's supporters are going to be really nasty at the polls and I am positive there will be issues.
Gothmog
(145,353 posts)Here is some more from Prof. Hasen http://electionlawblog.org/?p=87783
With Trumps dangerous and irresponsible hyperventilating about voter fraud and cheating in Pennsylvania potentially costing him the election, it is probably no surprise, as reported by theWeekly Standard, that Trump is seeking election observers to stop Crooked Hillary from rigging this election.
However, theres a longstanding consent decree that bars the RNC from engaging in such activities .
I said the legal question would be whether Trump, if he is engaging in ballot security measures which would violate the consent decree, is acting as an agent of the RNC. If so, then the consent decree against the RNC could be extended another 8 years.
Last night MSNBC reported that the Trump campaign was hoping to work with the RNC to be on the lookout for (phantom) voter fraud, leading Republican attorney Ben Ginsberg to warn that this could put the RNC into hot water.