The swing state of Pennsylvania may see illegal recruitment of out-of-state poll watchers by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, according to a letter sent on Thursday by the Republican National Committee (RNC). The letter accuses the state party of spreading “misinformation” on their website, which could interfere with the legitimacy of the election results.
The RNC points out that the Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s website states that poll watchers do not have to be Pennsylvania voters, as long as they are physically present in the state. This contradicts state law, which requires poll watchers to be registered voters in the county where they will be monitoring. “That’s a completely inaccurate statement,” says Linda A. Kerns, Pennsylvania election integrity counsel for the RNC. “Our law is extremely strict on that.” Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow and manager at the Heritage Foundation, also agrees that the state party is “soliciting individuals to violate state law.”
The RNC argues that recruiting poll watchers based on these false guidelines could potentially impact the legitimacy of the election results, especially in a close race like the one currently unfolding in Pennsylvania. According to RealClearPolitics averages, former President Donald Trump is narrowly leading Vice President Kamala Harris by just 0.1 points in the battleground state. The RNC believes that any incorrect information being spread could potentially disrupt the voting process and hinder the right of voters to have a smooth experience.
The RNC is pursuing voting irregularities in states like MI and PA.
We have numerous accounts of Republican poll watchers being kicked out, and that absolutely undermines confidence in the canvassing process. pic.twitter.com/9MvkRoIsgz
— Ronna McDaniel (@RonnaMcDaniel) November 10, 2020
The RNC also expressed concern about the Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s recruitment of “early vote monitors” who are responsible for assisting voters outside election offices. The RNC believes that this could create chaos and interfere with the ability of monitors to properly keep an eye on voting activities. According to the letter, the party’s statements on their website regarding these “early vote monitors” are “egregious misstatements of Pennsylvania election law.” The RNC urges the state to clarify the scope of permissible activities for these monitors and whether the party’s proposed actions align with the position of Pennsylvania’s commissioner in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania’s electoral count is the largest among all seven battleground states, with 19 electors. The state has proven to be crucial in presidential elections, with President Joe Biden, Trump, and former President Barack Obama all securing their presidencies with the help of Pennsylvania’s electoral votes.
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party has not yet responded to the allegations made in the RNC’s letter. If the party is truly promoting actions that go against state laws, it is a concerning development that could potentially harm the integrity of the election. The RNC is calling on the state to take action and clarify the rules for poll watchers and early vote monitors in order to ensure a fair and transparent election process.
To rerun 2020
Voting fraud should be a capital offense.