With voting having already started, there has been much talk about whether this will be a free and fair election. As you have probably heard, a certain high-profile individual has been constantly claiming that voting by mail will be rife with fraud, even though there is little to no evidence suggesting this will be a significant problem. Those who wish for a robust overall turnout are concerned that rampant voter suppression techniques will discourage large numbers of citizens from voting.
During the recent debate, President Trump told his supporters, “I’m urging my supporters to go into the polls and watch them very carefully because that’s what has to happen.” Statements like these from the President are quite concerning to those who suspect that some individuals and groups will use force and intimidation to attempt to dissuade certain people (and groups of people) from voting.
In Dunedin, Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Miami or anywhere else in the State of Florida poll watchers have specific rights and duties as spelled out in Florida Statute §101.131 which should ensure that no voter intimidation or suppression occurs within, or right outside of a polling place. Each political party is permitted to have one poll watcher in each polling room or early voting area at any one time during the election. No poll watcher is allowed to come closer to the voting booths or officials table than is “reasonably necessary to properly perform his or her functions, but each shall be allowed within the polling room or early voting area to watch and observe the conduct of electors and officials.” In the age of Covid-19 this requires at least 6 feet of distance between persons at the polling place.
Each political party and/or candidate who requests to have poll watchers must designate in writing and advance to the supervisor of elections, poll watchers for each polling room on election day. Poll watchers must be a qualified and registered voter of the county in which they serve. Poll watchers are not permitted to speak directly or otherwise interact with voters in the polling place or within 150 feet of the entrance to any polling place. The poll watcher is required to wear a poll watcher identification badge provided by the supervisor of elections. Just here in Clearwater, Dunedin, St. Petersburg, and the rest of Pinellas County there are hundreds of polling sites and there could be poll watchers at each one.
As the election comes closer it is incumbent upon all citizens to do their part to ensure all eligible voters who want to vote will be able to vote. If you see any person or groups of persons seeking to intimidate a voter from participating in this election, document what you see and call Election Protection at: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).