How to Detect and Report Voter Bullying or Ballot Irregularities
Intimidation of voters in polling stations has become a problem since we first disagreed about which people should vote for . With tensions high this year, here’s how to spot voter bullying and voting irregularities, and what to do if you do.
Federal law makes it a criminal offense to intimidate, threaten or coerce voters at polling stations to vote for a particular candidate (or refuse to vote altogether). This is punishable by a fine and imprisonment for up to a year. While this sounds simple, what is legally considered “intimidation” can be a little hazy. Even if no one specifically tries to prevent you from voting, there may still be bugs and errors that might interest you. In general, however, there are a few things that are important to pay attention to:
- Violence or threats of violence are prohibited. Duringthe Jim Crow era, physical violence in polling stations was much more common (although it is sometimes encountered today). The Voting Rights Act drew a clear line against the use of violence to prevent voting.
- Most states restrict or prohibit campaigning near polling stations. You may not think of a campaign as “intimidation,” but converting a polling station into a rally in favor of a particular candidate can unfairly affect voters in the area. Most states restrict this practice by requiring any campaigning events to be kept as close as possible to the polling station.
- Enforcement of voting rules is a fine line best left to officials. States have the right to hire poll observers to enforce voting rules, and most of these observers are volunteers who sign up before elections. The 46 states also allow individuals to challenge someone’s electoral status in one form or another if they suspect they are not entitled to vote. However, it could be a large swampy gray area if the “volunteer” day goes too far. If someone appears in an official uniform with a weapon and starts asking to check the status of voters, it is best to notify the officials at the polling station itself. Also, be sure to check the laws of your state.
- Older voting machines may have problems, so notify survey participants. In the midst of rampant allegations of “fraudulent” elections, it is easy to worry if you try to recruit one candidate and the electronic voting machine lights up for another. While your first instinct may be to rig the vote, the real culprit is likely to be old clunky touchscreens . Just let the survey participants know if your machine is not working properly. You can take photographs in the booth if permitted by your state , but if this is not the case, simply inform the survey participant and ask them to help you.
Unfortunately, apart from overt acts of violence, it is not always easy to define what constitutes voter intimidation. However, if you have met your state’s registration requirements , you are eligible for your vote to be counted. If you feel that someone is forcing you not to vote or is trying to prevent you from voting, you can report it.
If you believe someone is unlawfully intimidating you or someone else to change or keep your vote, you can call the U.S. Department of Justice at 800-253-3931 or report it to the Impartial Election Defense Coalition at 866- OUR-VOTE . If you have the opportunity, also speak with the polling officials at your polling station to make sure they know about someone who is bullying voters who should not be there. They should also be able to tell you how to ensure that your vote is counted, even if someone tries to prevent it.