Tuesday, November 6, 2012

UPDATE: Police presence at polling places should be minimal

UPDATE:  5:39 p.m.  Police presence in and around polling places is viewed as potentially intimidating to voters.  Federal law addresses this issue. Numerous complaints of patrol cars with flashing lights situated outside polling places have been called and texted in to the Call Center.  Traffic control may occasionally warrant police presence; however, it is the position of most voting experts that such "traffic control" exceptions occur only during peak driving times and therefore should not be conducted throughout the day.  Voters who are greeted by flashing blue lights can experience intimidation.  We are urging law enforcement officials to discontinue unnecessary display of police presence in the polling place vicinities.

Update: 5:39 p.m. We have received a report from the Coast that there are seven police officers and cruisers at the Don Snyder precinct who have been advised that their presence is intimidating.  They disbursed, and the caller reports one patrolman is still on site.


No comments:

Post a Comment