LAT "What if armed, far-right groups go to the polls? Some plan to"

[DBoon]

HOUSTON —

They go by names like Oath Keepers, Wolverine Watchmen and the Three Percenters. They chat on Gab, Discord, 4chan and other social media. Heavily armed and loyal to President Trump, many vow to descend on polling places Nov. 3. in a far-right show of unity.

Armed, far-right groups have long echoed at the fringes of American politics, drawing white nationalists and other extremists to their ranks. But over the last four years — when conservative causes have collided with social justice movements — their voices have grown louder, their actions more brazen. The alleged plot this week by extremists to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was a stunning indication of the potential for domestic terrorism.

The groups are now turning their attention to swing states in the most consequential election in generations. Far-right organizations have rallied around Trump, positioning themselves as a counterforce to movements like the anti-fascist antifa and Black Lives Matter, whom they blame for nationwide protests that have stirred unrest in recent months. The majority of Black Lives Matter protesters have been nonviolent.

...

“The chances are really high that we’re going to see militia members, armed groups or Trump supporters who are armed at the polls,” said Cassie Miller, a senior researcher with the Southern Poverty Law Center. “Not only are these people willing to participate in voter intimidation, but they’re hoping to create this chaotic moment. There’s an unwillingness to accept anything but a Trump victory.”

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-10-10/what-happens-if-armed-right-wing-groups-polls

[Sherman A1]

1. They need to be called what they really are

Domestic Terrorists. Their goal is to terrorize the public and nothing more.

[cayugafalls]

2. They should all be arrested as Domestic Terrorists on voter intimidation charges.

Round them up and put them in jail.

Unfortunately, the leader of the country right now is also the de-facto leader of these groups.

Criminals all of them. I hope Joe is keeping track, they should all go to jail on January 21st 2021.

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. WHEN this happens, DOJ and WH will encourage violence and death and then

Last edited Sat Oct 10, 2020, 06:15 PM - Edit history (2)

red states will say they will not and cannot do electors because of this.

They are willing to destroy us all, actually kill us.

edit

god I HATE being stalked...dont have time for it, I am working with others to save the country from people who BASHED Hillary

[cwydro]

8. You think they will just come up and shoot you at the polling place?

How would they know how you plan to vote?

I’m not in the least worried about these witless wonders.

[marie999]

10. Well if red states don't certify electors then Biden wins.

Remember, you don't necessarily need 270 electors to win, you need a majority of certified electors.

[Hekate]

4. KnR

[GulfCoast66]

5. Doubtful in Florida. Why?

Open carry is illegal. Without their guns they become the cowards they are.

I can’t believe all the states that allow people to walk around heavily armed.

[Thomas Hurt]

6. Texas has an open carry law and it is still illegal to carry your gun in a polling location.

[doc03]

7. They can't do anything but just look like assholes.

Don't agitate them just ignore them.

[GemDigger]

9. Ignore them and go about my business and vote!

[Gothmog]

11. Texas Democrats are prepared to deal with this

I have been volunteering on voter protection effort for a very long time. I have been an election judge and have runned the voter protection war room. I have trained 100s of poll watchers for the 2012 and 2016 elections. I just took the course on elcection law for election workers and they covered a topic that I had never seen before. There is a handout that provides the law on what constitutes an unlawful militia This is from the course-Link to information on unlawful militias in Texas: www.law.georgetown.edu/icap/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2020/09/Texas.pdf?

In Texas poll watchers are very limited in Texas and cannot talk to voters. Poll watchers have to be appointed by a party or a candidate and there are severe limitations on what a poll watcher can do. I had to deal with True the Vote poll watchers in 2012 and we ended up having no real issues. The presiding election judge can eject a poll watcher who violates the rules including trying to talk to a voter.

This course deals with some of the proposed tactics that may be used by trump supporters. The presiding election judge has the power to arrest persons who violate the election or penal code at a polling location which includes the area outside a polling location. Having firearms within a set distrance of a voting location can be stopped if the intent is to intimidate voters. Under Texas law, a riot can be 7 people who attempt to disrupt voting and it is illegal to obstruct access to polling location. We have never covered this topics in past election law seminars.

I am glad that we are preparing to deal with some of the tactics that are being discussed.

[Gothmog]

12. Texas Democrats are prepared to deal with this

I have been volunteering on voter protection effort for a very long time. I have been an election judge and have runned the voter protection war room. I have trained 100s of poll watchers for the 2012 and 2016 elections. I just took the course on elcection law for election workers and they covered a topic that I had never seen before. There is a handout that provides the law on what constitutes an unlawful militia This is from the course-Link to information on unlawful militias in Texas: www.law.georgetown.edu/icap/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2020/09/Texas.pdf?

In Texas poll watchers are very limited in Texas and cannot talk to voters. Poll watchers have to be appointed by a party or a candidate and there are severe limitations on what a poll watcher can do. I had to deal with True the Vote poll watchers in 2012 and we ended up having no real issues. The presiding election judge can eject a poll watcher who violates the rules including trying to talk to a voter.

This course deals with some of the proposed tactics that may be used by trump supporters. The presiding election judge has the power to arrest persons who violate the election or penal code at a polling location which includes the area outside a polling location. Having firearms within a set distrance of a voting location can be stopped if the intent is to intimidate voters. Under Texas law, a riot can be 7 people who attempt to disrupt voting and it is illegal to obstruct access to polling location. We have never covered this topics in past election law seminars.

I am glad that we are preparing to deal with some of the tactics that are being discussed.

https://www.law.georgetown.edu/icap/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2020/10/Voter-Intimidation-Fact-Sheet.pdf

[keithbvadu2]

13. Militia/terrorists - a singular term.

Militia/terrorists - a singular term.