Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is asking for volunteer election “observers”:
“Help Me Stop Crooked Hillary From Rigging This Election!”
This is Trump’s latest effort to undermine the election process and it just happens to coincide with his slump in the polls. BuzzFeed reports that Trump’s fear mongering about rigged elections has become “increasingly prominent” in his speeches. Even though voter fraud is extraordinarily rare.
As CNN’s Brian Stelter pointed out, this is dangerous stuff on Trump’s part.
And now, he’s making it worse.
It’s not clear from Trump’s webpage what, exactly, he plans for his volunteers to do once they sign up. But given the racist belligerence of Donald Trump supporters, it’s a frightening proposition to think of them playing sheriff’s posse while people they regularly demonize are trying to vote.
Besides, as Ryan Denson at Addicting Info, asked, will these people show up armed in states that allow it? “Observe” in predominantly minority precincts? It’s a terrifying picture.
On top of all that, Trump’s efforts may be illegal. Think Progress explains:
“If Trump is encouraging his supporters to deter qualified Democratic voters from voting in a way that disproportionately affects non-white people — by spreading misleading information about whether they need an ID to vote, for example — the DNC could argue he’s overstepping and ask for the consent decree to be extended for another eight years.”
This is just one more reason we need Donald Trump to suffer an overwhelming, humiliating defeat, as I wrote in my last post. A normal loss is not enough to stop him. It’s got to be YUUGE.
Watch the angry, provocative ways his fans express their support for Trump below, via The New York Times. WARNING: it contains graphic language and violence, and is not suitable for children. Parental discretion is advised.
Then make sure you’re registered to vote and try to vote early.
Featured Image Via YouTube Screengrab
