CINCINNATI – The U.S. Supreme Court has turned down a request from Ohio Democrats to issue an order aimed at preventing Donald Trump’s supporters from harassing or intimidating voters on Election Day.
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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg noted on Monday that Ohio law already forbids voter intimidation.
The case is part of a flurry of courtroom efforts by the Democrats around the country to head off what they say is vigilantism by the Trump campaign and its backers.
Ohio’s Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted says he doesn’t expect there to be any problems and says there appear to be fewer requests for observer credentials than at this point in 2012.
Polling place observers can be appointed by parties, candidates or ballot issue committees can send observers to polling places but they must be granted credentials by local election officials. They are allowed within 100 feet of the polling place but must take an oath and obey the rules.
Husted says there will be “no toleration” of observers who talk to voters.
“You’re not allowed to interact with voters, you’re not allowed to inject yourself into the process,” Husted said. “If you do that, the poll worker or the poll site manager will ask you to discontinue that and if you do not discontinue that, law enforcement and that individual will be removed
The Republican presidential candidate has called on supporters to watch for fraud at the polls. That has stirred fears of minority voters being confronted and challenged by self-appointed poll watchers.
Husted says poll watchers without the proper credentials will not be allowed within the 100-foot limit.