If You're Not Voting Early and You're Worried about Militia Types at the Polls

[MineralMan]

Here's the thing: You're probably not going to see them at your polling place. If they show up anywhere, it will be at some polling places where most people believe as they do. They're not "Proud Boys" or "Brave Boys." They're not "Strong Boys," either. They're "Scared Boys."

If, by some chance you do encounter any such people outside of your polling place, just walk past them and ignore anything they have to say. Just go into your polling place and cast your vote. Don't engage with them. Don't argue with them. Just walk on by and vote inside, where they absolutely will not be allowed to be.

If you are actually threatened, turn back and call 911 to report the threat. Insist on a physical response by law enforcement. Don't take no for an answer. Then, wait for a law enforcement person to show up and ask that official to escort you into the polling place. Don't be afraid. The "Scared Boys" are not going to attack you or hurt you. They know that will lead to their arrest and that they won't be happy in jail.

If you have already voted, though, and have friends who you can count on, consider showing up at a polling place with your friends. Come armed with your cell phone camera, a GoPro, or some other high-definition video equipment. Stand well away from the "Scared Boys" and don't engage with them in any way. Simply record any harassments, threats, or other illegal behavior from them. Don't carry signs, wear political clothing, or do anything else. Just record what the "Scared Boys" do, if it involves voter intimidation efforts. If they threaten you, call 911 and ask for a law enforcement officer to be sent to your location. That is your right.

[lark]

1. Good advice.

Predators attack prey so don't look like prey.

[cwydro]

3. How are these predators supposed to know how any random person is going to vote?

Makes no sense.

[lark]

7. They pick on minorities, the timid, and anyone who looks down on their luck.

They attack who they perceive as the weak or different.

[cwydro]

10. But how would they know the person is not voting republican?

I know minorities who support trump. As far as weak or timid, are republicans some kind of studly group full of confidence ?

Different? Those cretinous militia morons from Michigan are pretty “different “ looking to me.

Sorry I’m not getting it. It makes no sense this belief people have that these weasels will show up to intimidate people when no one knows who is voting for whom.

I’m not in the least worried about any “proud boys” or anyone else.

[MineralMan]

14. They're not all that bright, of course.

If they come to harass, they will harass people who fit whatever stereotype they think will vote for Democrats and who look like they might be fearful. They want to stir up fear and arguments. That is why they are there.

The simplest way to deal with them is not to acknowledge them at all. They will hate that, since they're there to be seen and recognized as the "patriots" they believe they are. If they are ignored, they will be disappointed.

Like all bullies, they will select those they think are weak and frightened for their attentions. They carry firearms to allay their own fears. They are, after all, "Scared Boys." If you're feeling brave, laughing at them is the best response. They hate that.

[cheezmaka]

31. I agree. How would they be able to tell?

A person could simply say "Hey, I'm voting for Trump!" and walk into the poll and vote for Biden. However, "ignoring them" is the BEST strategy. I'm in Detroit so those militia morons wouldn't dare come to ANY Detroit polling locations!

[lark]

57. The 2nd time Bush ran some of his supporters were harassing folks going to vote.

It's the only time it happened. They were questioning most dark skinned folks or folks who looked down on their luck if they were registered and asking them to prove it, but the security guards made them leave, so they just went about 100 yrds away (the legal limit) and resumed yelling at people, but they didn't actually touch anyone or stop anyone as the guards were watching them closely by that time. It's against the law for anyone other than 1 person - unarmed - to represent each party at the polling plce, so inside should never be a problem unless there are major crazies. This time they are allegedly training Proud Boys to be their poll watchers, but each state is different so don't know if they are competent enough to accomplish that. If a Proud Boy, as a monitor, was there, who knows what those asses would do?

I do think almost 100% of this, if it gets bad at all, would happen on election day to make more impact. That and shorter (praying for this) lines on early voting are why I will be going tomorrow. Have my chairs ready and will bring my water jug, big hat, Kendle, phone and snacks. 3 more votes for Biden tomorrow.

[BamaRefugee]

34. Oh they know how you're gonna vote. It's those Birkenstocks that all the damn LIBRULS wear! 'MURICA!

[cwydro]

50. Well, I don't even own a pair lol. as if they'd even recognize a pair of Birkenstocks.

No way can they figure out how anyone is going to vote.

I think it's kind of silly to think these morons are going to be trying to size someone up at the polls and guess how they'll vote. I'm sorry, but it makes no sense to me. Giving these idiots WAY too much credit for having any brains at all.

[Thekaspervote]

2. Good words..

[Chainfire]

4. This old hippie

might be meaner than they are. I will not be intimidated at the polls.

[MineralMan]

16. Well, yes. They will doubtless leave you alone.

Bullies only pick on those they perceive as weak.

[Mike 03]

5. Great post.

Kicking!

[AlexSFCA]

6. pretend you are a trump supporter

[SharonClark]

8. Good advice.

Also, when you go into the place to vote, tell the person running the polling place and the Democratic Poll Watcher. They'll know what to do.

[MineralMan]

12. Yes! I should have included that suggestion.

Thanks.

[sarge43]

24. Hubby and I have talked about this.

In the remote possibility that any of those a-holes up at our polling place, he'll stay put and record the action. I'll go inside and notify the officials. He can keep his temper; I can't.

[LisaL]

9. And if you can vote early, vote early!

By mail or in person.
This way you don't have to worry about "proud boys." And them "proud boys" will be harassing their own kind, since many republicans are waiting until election day.

[FM123]

11. Yes!

If it gets ugly, call one of these numbers:
The Election Protection Hotline: 1-866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español)
The U.S. Department of Justice Voting Rights Hotline: [phone]; TTY line 877-267-8971

https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/field_pdf_file/kyr-voterintimidation-v03.pdf

[MineralMan]

13. Thanks for those numbers.

Personally, I would be more inclined to call 911 first, though. That is a faster way to contact the local authorities, who are the ones who would respond. However, the DOJ also needs to be aware of incidents, for sure. I just doubt that they will respond immediately.

[FM123]

15. Yes. Safety first, call 911 first.

[Joinfortmill]

17. Stay safe. Vote.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. I wouldn't expect to see them at my polling place

even if I hadn't already voted. They might want to intimidate probable Democratic voters but I don't think they'd put in an appearance in my very liberal, mixed but majority white middle-class neighborhood, where the police would be called instantly and might even show up. Although they specifically don't want Black people to vote, they aren't going to venture into urban Black neighborhoods where they know they'd get their asses kicked. I'm not sure where they could go for maximum intimidation effect without the possibility of harm to their own sorry, frightened, tiny-dicked selves.

[KPN]

19. Excellent and appropriate advice!

[hurple]

20. If you see them...

Call the police. Tell them there are people with guns threatening people at the polling place.

DO NOT just walk by and ignore them. REPORT THEM as potential terrorists.

[MineralMan]

25. That's fine if you witness them making threats or harassing people.

However, simply assembling is not illegal, and open carry of weapons is also legal in many places. Even campaigning is legal outside of the exclusion zone in a jurisdiction. Here in MN, that is 100' from the voting location. The police will not do anything unless actual laws are being broken, so know the laws for your state and local jurisdiction.

Don't cry "Wolf!" unless there is a wolf present. Don't report criminal activity where there are no laws being broken. That's an important thing to remember.

It is fine to just walk past and ignore demonstrators outside of the exclusion zone, if there are no actual threats being made.

[hurple]

54. Openly carrying firearms in public

IS a threat.

Treat it as such

[MineralMan]

61. I agree, but it's legal to do that in many states.

As long as they stay 100' from the polling place, at least in most states, the cops won't do anything just because they're carrying firearms. If they're not breaking the law, nothing will happen to them.

[yuiyoshida]

21. voted by mail...

Link to tweet

[MineralMan]

22. +100!

[tavernier]

23. There will be lawyers and other officials at the polling places

on our official voting day. They will be watching for mischief and any sort of intimidation. Give them a heads up if you encounter a problem and let them take care of it.

[MineralMan]

26. There might be, but probably not at every polling place.

The number of polling places nationwide is far too large to have lawyers at every one of them. In reality, the "Scared Boys" are not going to show up at very many polling places. There aren't enough of them to do that.

[tavernier]

30. Hopefully at least a dem rep at each, but certainly in problem areas.

I’ve done it on occasion for our local party and they provide me with numbers to call for any problems of that sort. Luckily everyone is always kind and responsible. One year the repub rep was a little snooty, but it wasn’t my day to babysit her so I just ignored.

[MineralMan]

32. I doubt there will be enough people to have someone at every polling place.

COVID-19 and all that. I've never seen party challengers from either side at my precinct's polling place. It's just not productive. People who show up at the polls are almost always legitimate registered voters, or eligible to register on election day.

Besides, those party challengers cannot even speak to the individual voters. They can only challenge a voter, based on personal knowledge that the voter is ineligible in Minnesota. How would they know that? So, they are simply not there, despite being entitled to be there.

In Minnesota only one challenger from each party can be in the room where voting takes place, too.

[tavernier]

39. And there is always this:

https://campaignlegal.org/update/what-do-if-you-encounter-voter-intimidation

Phone number to Election Protection hotline and instructions both in English and Spanish.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

27. Thanks, MM....good advice. Here are the laws relating to polling places....

for all states per the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS):

State Laws on Electioneering Boundaries:

Link to PDF: https://www.nass.org/resources/2018-election-information/electioneering-boundaries

State Laws on Authorized Poll Watchers & Voter Challenges:

Link to PDF: https://www.nass.org/resources/2018-election-information/Poll-Watchers-Voter-Challenges

Those pages clarify who and what is allowed in and around polling places in most states. They even provide reference to the exact statutes that apply to those issues.

Agree that voters must put their mule blinders on and just focus on voting, yet collect photographic evidence where we suspect laws are being broken.

KY

[MineralMan]

28. Thanks for those links.

Very useful information in there for voters in every state.

[vercetti2021]

29. I'm not gonna worry

When I vote. I'm gonna be aware and if some proud boy does anything with me. I will be on my guard whether it's a death stare or an altercation if they try to block people.

[birdographer]

33. Great advice

They are nothing but bullies. Call their bluff and they will back down. Don't engage.

[Jopin Klobe]

35. Absolute guarantee of cops showing up ...

... tell them your assailants are black ...

... hell, you'll probably get to see a heavily armed armored Humvee klown car ...

[MineralMan]

37. No. Don't lie to the police.

That's a stupid thing to do.

[proud patriot]

36. I'm going to pass this along

Thanks

[MineralMan]

38. Thanks for doing that!

[Submariner]

40. Avoid eye contact with the Maga-nazis if you can

and save yourself from the grief of hearing "WTF are you looking at?" from these trumpists.

[Progressive Jones]

41. I can't believe we have to have this conversation... SMDH. nt

[orangecrush]

42. Well said.

[paleotn]

43. Scared boys is a perfect moniker....

Last edited Sun Oct 18, 2020, 05:02 PM - Edit history (1)

That's exactly what they are. Secondly, I think their impact is being blown way out of proportion. Not that they and their ilk won't show up at a handful of polling places, but that's just it. A handful, because there's only a handful of them. We tend to view them just like the reich wing views Antifa and George Soros. They're not some massive, organized entity. They're a small group of nutters who hook up on the interwebs. There's probably more folks just on DU than the entire Scared Boys universe.

[MineralMan]

51. I agree completely.

[bluestarone]

44. GREAT ADVICE! because i really believe

This shit WILL happen in SOME states! Good advice for sure. Agree that 911 is the best way to handle it!

[Oscarthegreat]

45. Don't give them a chance

There is no excuse for not voting early. If you wait till the last minute you are helping the orange turd and his goons. Vote by mail but don't use the US Postal service. Find legitimate ballot boxes and deposit your ballot there. If you go to a polling station to vote in person in certain red areas you are very likely to be harassed and prevented from voting by right wing goons.

[Fiendish Thingy]

46. How about armed uniformed off duty LEO's?

That’s what the GOP did in black precincts in NJ in 1981. The LEO’s confronted and intimidated voters inside the polling places, suppressing the vote. It went to court, and was settled with a consent decree that expired this year.

So, we should be prepared for that eventuality as well. Hopefully the Biden campaign’s lawyers will be on top of it.

[calimary]

47. Your last paragraph is most important. HAVE YOUR PHONE READY SO YOU CAN TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS

OR VIDEO.

What you're actually going to be doing is collecting evidence, and putting it (AND the offenders) on the record.

[Sogo]

48. My guess is that the places that most likely will have to worry about

"scared boys" will be PA, MI, and WI.

[MineralMan]

53. Yeah, maybe.

Could also happen in the Southern states in some areas.

[IronLionZion]

49. Some states prohibit guns at polling locations

So you could have them arrested for that too.

Six states—Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas—prohibit guns in polling locations.

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trumps-call-militia-watch-polling-places-raises-fears-voter-intimidation-1539900

[MineralMan]

52. The problem there is the word "IN."

They're not going to be inside polling places. They'll be outside, at least 100' away. Their idea is to intimidate people from even coming to the polling places. It's not going to happen in very many places. There just aren't enough of the morons. But it might happen in some locations.

[IronLionZion]

55. They might target suburban swing districts of swing states

but are probably too dumb for that. I hope they stick to red rural areas with like minded people. Urban liberal areas will have the longest lines. Things could get out of hand easily.

[Vivienne235729]

56. KR. Best advice!!

[mopinko]

58. wear a shirt w a pocket a little shorter that your phone.

put it on record, w the camera poking out. if you are sneaky enough you can hit the button w/o notice.
they wont even know you are recording them. the worst that can happen is you only get audio.

[tormadjax]

59. I'm thinking of buying my first gun.

I will go to my poling place and just casually stand guard in an unobvious way. Not going to threaten, not going to intimidate. I'm just going to be ready.

No one, NO ONE, is going to mess with Democracy in my world!!

[MineralMan]

60. I'd advise against that.

If you're not already familiar with firearms, just owning one will not benefit you. Let the cops handle the "Scared Boys." Don't become part of the problem in an attempt to help solve it.

That's my advice.

[tormadjax]

62. It just pisses me off to no end

My father and uncles fought WW II and they deserve to have their service honored!

[MineralMan]

63. Yes. They do.

However, carrying a firearm should be based on your ability to use it wisely and properly.

It's not something inexperienced people should just do.

So, going out and buying a gun is not the answer, unless you are willing to take the time to learn how to use it. Otherwise it is a very dangerous proposition, indeed. Your father and uncles were trained in the proper use of firearms by the military.

[tormadjax]

64. But look at this!

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/u-s-police-chiefs-grapple-new-election-day-threat-armed-n1243826

U.S. police chiefs grapple with new Election Day threat: Armed men at the polls

[MineralMan]

65. Yes, but that situation will not be helped by more people

carrying guns. Personally, I expect to see very, very few such situations on election day. A few, of course, will happen, with some ragtag group of malcontents showing up armed. Not many, though. There are far fewer such groups than many people think. And each group is small in numbers. There are simply not enough disgruntled "militia" people out there to appear at every polling place. Where they do appear, I expect local law enforcement will show up and make their presence known.

However, I think there will be a small number of locations where real conflicts between "militias" and LEOs might occur. I'd avoid those polling places until the conflict is over.