Voter intimidation - best way to proceed?
August 30, 2024 10:20 AM Subscribe
Recently, a senator seeking re-election visited a political club I belong to. During the meeting, trump protestors showed up and after the senator concluded the meeting and left, proceeded to harass, intimidate and be racist. One of the protestors, in a conversation with me, revealed that she worked in the Registrar's office "counting absentee ballots". We filed a complaint against her, the Electoral Board had a hearing and their decision was to do nothing. This is in a 70% republican area. The decision seemed partisan and corrupt. Next steps? YANAL YANML
The hearing included statements from half a dozen people at the meeting and described in detail her behavior. This included chasing an African American member of our group across a parking lot shoving a sign in his face; one of our other members had to put himself physically between her and the member of our group. She yelled obscene and racist epithets, we were told this is trump country and you're not wanted here. In the conversation I initiated with her, I said that I have been yelled at twice like this in my life, once was with her and the second was at the polls in the 2020 election. She pivoted from her behavior and then described that she worked at the polls counting absentee ballots. It is well known that Democrats are more likely to vote absentee than republicans and I was highly alarmed, hence the complaint that was filed with the registrar. As I said, the registrar and electoral board decided to do nothing - this woman still has her job - and one has to wonder what an employee would have to do to get fired if not this.
We are in Virginia. There doesn't seem to be any appeal process we could find. I have contacted three local newspapers with the hopes that this might be picked up as a voter intimidation story, but that seems unlikely it will be followed up on. Others in this group are very worried about intimidation and further harassment but I refuse to be intimidated, despite the fact that those expressing support for the democratic party in this area (bumper stickers, signs and so on) have experienced vandalism of various sorts, so I get it.
But I feel there should be some accountability here, for this woman and now for the electoral board. What else can I do?
The hearing included statements from half a dozen people at the meeting and described in detail her behavior. This included chasing an African American member of our group across a parking lot shoving a sign in his face; one of our other members had to put himself physically between her and the member of our group. She yelled obscene and racist epithets, we were told this is trump country and you're not wanted here. In the conversation I initiated with her, I said that I have been yelled at twice like this in my life, once was with her and the second was at the polls in the 2020 election. She pivoted from her behavior and then described that she worked at the polls counting absentee ballots. It is well known that Democrats are more likely to vote absentee than republicans and I was highly alarmed, hence the complaint that was filed with the registrar. As I said, the registrar and electoral board decided to do nothing - this woman still has her job - and one has to wonder what an employee would have to do to get fired if not this.
We are in Virginia. There doesn't seem to be any appeal process we could find. I have contacted three local newspapers with the hopes that this might be picked up as a voter intimidation story, but that seems unlikely it will be followed up on. Others in this group are very worried about intimidation and further harassment but I refuse to be intimidated, despite the fact that those expressing support for the democratic party in this area (bumper stickers, signs and so on) have experienced vandalism of various sorts, so I get it.
But I feel there should be some accountability here, for this woman and now for the electoral board. What else can I do?
I am in Virginia and have passing knowledge of news media that might not be on your radar - if you message me your location, I can see if I have any suggestions.
Is your local chapter of the Democratic Party aware of this issue? I would probably start with them and ACLU Virginia.
posted by toastedcheese at 10:47 AM on August 30 [7 favorites]
Is your local chapter of the Democratic Party aware of this issue? I would probably start with them and ACLU Virginia.
posted by toastedcheese at 10:47 AM on August 30 [7 favorites]
I'm so sorry that happened to you!
We have a number in North Carolina for voter protection for Democrats - 1-833-VOTE4NC. It looks like there's a nonpartisan group in VA with a similar number - 866-OUR-VOTE. You can call or text.
posted by JuliaKM at 11:23 AM on August 30 [4 favorites]
We have a number in North Carolina for voter protection for Democrats - 1-833-VOTE4NC. It looks like there's a nonpartisan group in VA with a similar number - 866-OUR-VOTE. You can call or text.
posted by JuliaKM at 11:23 AM on August 30 [4 favorites]
Maybe less local news outlets too - it's also a matter of state and national interest.
posted by trig at 11:38 AM on August 30 [2 favorites]
posted by trig at 11:38 AM on August 30 [2 favorites]
Have you contacted the municipal clerk this person works for? I realize the Electoral Board didn't actually fire them, but it's possible that the position itself is the sort of gig-like arrangement where the hours being offered for work could simply dry up as a problematic worker's assistance is no longer needed.
posted by teremala at 11:49 AM on August 30
posted by teremala at 11:49 AM on August 30
In case this was a county Electoral Board, I'd go to the State Board of Elections next.
posted by soelo at 1:25 PM on August 30 [2 favorites]
posted by soelo at 1:25 PM on August 30 [2 favorites]
I'm also a little confused about this person's employment status. Did the Electoral Board confirm that she was an employee and is still employed there? Because I'd've thought any actual ballot counting would be done by temporary workers who are only there a few hours or days during election season.
(Doesn't mean they might not be able to make a note not to hire her back.)
(FWIW, I'd also expect that any ballot counting would be done in a group, and that any critical steps that might allow tampering with the count would be witnessed by workers sworn to represent each major party. And also that it's good she wasn't working at the polls and interacting with actual voters....)
posted by bfields at 2:17 PM on August 30
(Doesn't mean they might not be able to make a note not to hire her back.)
(FWIW, I'd also expect that any ballot counting would be done in a group, and that any critical steps that might allow tampering with the count would be witnessed by workers sworn to represent each major party. And also that it's good she wasn't working at the polls and interacting with actual voters....)
posted by bfields at 2:17 PM on August 30
Do you have video of the incident? That will make a big difference in whether media picks this up (fairly or not).
posted by moosetracks at 3:40 PM on August 30 [1 favorite]
posted by moosetracks at 3:40 PM on August 30 [1 favorite]
This woman sounds very unpleasant, but it also sounds like she's being partisan and attending protests as a private citizen - it's not super clear to me what specifically would be a potential firing offense here.
My suggestion would be to record her if you recognize her at future events, and definitely report her again if she either claims to have mishandled ballots in the past, or threatens to do so in the upcoming election.
Separately, you might engage with your county election board to see what procedures they have in place to ensure that one malign employee can't interfere with a proper count.
posted by kickingtheground at 3:59 PM on August 30 [1 favorite]
My suggestion would be to record her if you recognize her at future events, and definitely report her again if she either claims to have mishandled ballots in the past, or threatens to do so in the upcoming election.
Separately, you might engage with your county election board to see what procedures they have in place to ensure that one malign employee can't interfere with a proper count.
posted by kickingtheground at 3:59 PM on August 30 [1 favorite]
I see there was proposed legislation in Virginia to make harassment of a poll worker a hate crime and/or a felony. I can't find the results of the vote or if it was signed into law, but this article talks about the bill's author. Obviously, you are not planning to harass her, but she could try to use that law against you if you start taking actions outside of legal avenues to get her removed from her position. You never know when a cop or judge is going to take her side in a dispute. Most laws say the harassment can be anywhere, not just inside the poll while they are working.
I have a resource that might help: Brennan Center. I'd also suggest you contact the office of Adam Ebbin, the bill's author, assuming that he wasn't the senator that met with your group.
Last point: in my state, absentee ballots are fed into a machine for counting. If the machine says the ballot is unreadable, then the workers attempt to cure the ballot and this activity requires party balance. I'd try to find out more about the process to determine what power she actually has.
posted by soelo at 12:23 PM on September 4
I have a resource that might help: Brennan Center. I'd also suggest you contact the office of Adam Ebbin, the bill's author, assuming that he wasn't the senator that met with your group.
Last point: in my state, absentee ballots are fed into a machine for counting. If the machine says the ballot is unreadable, then the workers attempt to cure the ballot and this activity requires party balance. I'd try to find out more about the process to determine what power she actually has.
posted by soelo at 12:23 PM on September 4
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posted by fiery.hogue at 10:43 AM on August 30 [10 favorites]