The Republican National Committee (RNC) has raised concerns about the potential illegal recruitment of poll watchers by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.
In a letter addressed to Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, the RNC flagged "misinformation" on the state Democratic Party's website regarding poll watcher eligibility. According to The Daily Signal, the letter claims that the Democratic Party's guidelines contradict Pennsylvania law, which requires poll watchers to be registered voters in the county where they serve.
The controversy centers on the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's website, which states that recruited poll watchers must be physically present in the state to work but "do not necessarily have to be PA voters." This guidance appears to conflict with Pennsylvania's legal requirement that poll watchers be "qualified registered electors of the county" where the election is taking place.
The RNC's letter expresses serious concerns about the potential impact of recruiting out-of-state poll watchers on election integrity. Linda A. Kerns, Pennsylvania election integrity counsel for the RNC, emphasized the strict nature of Pennsylvania's laws regarding poll watchers. She stated that even candidates are not permitted to enter polling places unless they are there to vote.
Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow and manager of the Election Law Reform Initiative at the Heritage Foundation, went further, asserting that the Pennsylvania Democratic Party is effectively "soliciting individuals to violate state law" with their current guidelines.
The RNC argues that recruiting poll watchers based on inaccurate restrictions could interfere with the legitimacy of the election results. This is particularly significant given Pennsylvania's status as a crucial battleground state in the upcoming presidential election.
The controversy over poll watcher recruitment takes on added significance in light of Pennsylvania's importance in the presidential race. Recent polls show a tight contest between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in the state. According to RealClearPolitics averages of polls from July 22 to August 28, Trump leads Harris by a mere 0.1 percentage points.
Pennsylvania's 19 electoral votes make it the largest prize among the seven battleground states. The state's electoral importance is underscored by its role in recent presidential elections, having helped secure victories for Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden in their respective campaigns.
In their letter to Secretary of State Al Schmidt, the RNC urges immediate action to address the situation. They have requested that Schmidt's office issue a public statement clarifying that poll watchers must be registered voters in the counties where they serve.
The letter from the RNC states:
The misinformation on the PA Dems' website threatens the integrity of November's general election. The Democratic Party cannot be permitted to recruit poll watchers in violation of the law and flood polling places with unqualified out-of-state poll watchers across the Commonwealth. We urge your office to issue a public statement clarifying that poll watchers must be registered voters in the counties in which they serve as poll watchers.
Beyond the issue of poll watcher eligibility, the RNC's letter also expressed concerns about the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's statements regarding "early vote monitors." These individuals are described as being responsible for assisting "voters outside Boards of Election and satellite locations during voting."
The RNC contends that the recruitment of these "early vote monitors" could potentially "threaten chaos" at election offices and risk allowing monitors to "engage in observation of voting activities" in ways that may not be consistent with Pennsylvania law.
In conclusion, the Republican National Committee has raised serious allegations about the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's recruitment of poll watchers, claiming it contradicts state law. The RNC's letter to Secretary of State Al Schmidt seeks clarification and correction of what they perceive as misinformation on the Democratic Party's website. This controversy highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding election integrity in a key battleground state.
