Donald Trump wants legions of his supporters to leave their hometowns on Election Day and set up shop in Pennsylvania’s cities. He wants to them to watch the polls closely and challenge voter registration. The unspoken directive is to wreak havoc. Make sure Democrats aren’t stacking the voting machines in favor of Hillary Clinton or allowing liberal voters to cast their ballots twice. “I hope you people can… not just vote on the 8th, [but] go around and look and watch other polling places and make sure that it’s 100-percent fine,” Trump said at an August rally in Altoona. “We’re going to watch Pennsylvania — go down to certain areas and watch… The only way we can lose, in my opinion — and I really mean this, Pennsylvania — is if cheating goes on.” When Trump talks about poll watching in “certain areas,” his supporters know where he’s referring to. He’s talking about Philadelphia and, to some degree, Pittsburgh — the state’s Democratic strongholds, and places where conservative media (“Call Sean Hannity!” etc.) say voter fraud has happened.
Thousands of “poll watchers” flooding PA cities would make for a juicy Election Day story. But in reality, poll watchers can only operate and challenge voter registration in the counties where they’re registered. Beyond that, typical poll watchers are just people designated to make sure everything at polling places is kept kosher and follows the rules. In the past, they’ve been the people who work to ensure registered voters can have their voices heard — not those trying to silence them.
Sure, it’s possible Republican poll watchers in Pennsylvania could become hostile on Election Day following Trump’s calls to action, causing chaos at the polls and creating an anarchic situation.
It’s just not likely.
Full Article: Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania poll watchers: The real story.