MAGA/QAnon Thugs Are Already Engaged In Voter Intimidation At Early Voting Sites In Arizona (Updated)

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Update to AZ County Sheriffs Too Close To Anti-Government Groups Engaged in Voter Intimidation.

ABC 15 reports, Report of voter intimidation referred to Department of Justice, Arizona Secretary of State’s office says:

An official with the Arizona Secretary of State’s office has confirmed that they have referred a report of voter intimidation to the Department of Justice and Arizona’s attorney general.

The SOS office tells ABC15 that a voter was approached and followed by a group of individuals, while “the voter was trying to drop off their ballot at an early voting drop box on Monday,” an email stated.

Maricopa County has two official drop box locations in the county — one outside their main election tabulation center in downtown Phoenix and another in Mesa outside the Juvenile Justice Court.

The alleged intimidation happened outside the Mesa location.

“The SOS has talked to the voter, informed Maricopa County, and referred the report to the DOJ and AG’s offices for further investigation,” a spokesperson wrote.

Last week, ABC15 shared there were reports of people in the vicinity of the very same drop box location in Mesa.

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer did not elaborate during a press conference last week on who the group is, but expressed concern if a voter becomes confronted, “Any attempt to deter, intimidate a lawful voter is unlawful, should be immediately reported, please to us, but also law enforcement.”

UPDATE:

Mail-in ballots can be dropped off at any of the 12 open voting locations, or a United States Postal Service drop box as well.

Richer said there are cameras on the two ballot drop box locations they have.

There have been calls by activists across social media for volunteers to watch ballot drop box locations in different counties across Arizona. There are concerns about what the intentions would be, and how untrained groups would be watching.

https://twitter.com/marceelias/status/1583156358139981824?cxt=HHwWgMCt7buUwPgrAAAA

From the Arizona Secretary of State’s Guidance on Voting Location Conduct (excerpt):

Activities Prohibited Inside the 75-foot-limit

3. Taking Photographs and Videos

While taking photos of your early ballot from home (“ballot selfies”) is permissible, taking any photos or videos in a voting location inside the 75-foot limit is prohibited and punishable as a misdemeanor. A.R.S. § 16-515(G)-(H); A.R.S. § 16-1018(4).

Further, much like the open display of firearms, taking photos or videos outside the 75-foot-limit may have an intimidating effect on voters entering or exiting the voting location if done in an aggressive, threatening, or harassing way. Filming voters based on race, ethnicity, religion, or political affiliation is inappropriate.

If you find it necessary to film to document the commission of a crime or other election-related violation, please consider informing a poll worker first.

Dropping off Ballots at Voting Locations

All eligible voters may request a ballot-by-mail and may mail back their voted ballot or drop it off at their County Recorder’s Office, any official ballot drop-box, any early voting location, or any Election Day voting location in the county. Ballots must be received by election officials by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Arizona law allows a caregiver, family member, household member, or election official to help return a voter’s ballot to county election officials, including dropping off the ballot at a voting location. These categories are broadly defined (A.R.S. § 16-1005):

      • A caregiver is a person who provides medical or health care assistance to the voter in a residence, nursing care institution, hospice facility, assisted living center, assisted living facility, assisted living home, residential care institution, adult day health care facility or adult foster care home.”
      • Family member: “a person who is related to the voter by blood, marriage, adoption or legal guardianship.”
      • Household member: “a person who resides at the same residence as the voter.”

Discriminatory Conduct and Voter Intimidation

Discrimination against voters based on race, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, or disability is punishable under law. Even in the absence of discrimination, any attempt to intimidate, coerce, or threaten a person to vote or not vote is strictly prohibited and may be criminally punishable.

Examples of activity that may amount to intimidation, whether in or outside the 75-foot limit, include:

Directly confronting or questioning voters in a harassing or intimidating manner, including asking voters for “documentation” or other questions that only poll workers should perform;

In sum, any activity that has the intent or effect of threatening, harassing, or intimidating voters—whether in or outside of the 75-foot-limit—is unlawful and should be strictly enforced by election officials, including with assistance from law enforcement if necessary. 52 U.S.C. §§ 10101(b), 10307(b); A.R.S. §§ 13-1202, 16-1013.

If you see something, say something.

From the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office:

Reporting Voter Intimidation and Other Unlawful Conduct

If you witness voter intimidation or other unlawful conduct at the polls, we recommend the following steps:

  • First, inform a poll worker at the voting location, who will work to resolve any problems and call your county election officials and/or local law enforcement if needed. However, if you or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 911 first and then inform a poll worker if possible.
  • Document what you see as much as possible, including the who, what, when, and where of the incident. (But keep in mind that taking photos or video is prohibited inside the 75-foot limit of a voting location.)

Click here to report the incident to the Secretary of State’s Office

You can also call 1-877-THE-VOTE. We will follow up with county election officials and federal, state, or local law enforcement entities if needed.

From the U.S. Attorney For Arizona:

Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Sean Lokey has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer for the District of Arizona, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of voting rights violations and election fraud in consultation with Justice Department headquarters in Washington.

AUSA Lokey can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 602-514-7516.

The FBI will also have special agents available in the Phoenix Field Division to receive allegations of election abuses on election day. FBI in Arizona can be reached by phone at 623-466-1999 or online at https://tips.fbi.gov/.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .

In the case of a crime of violence, call 911 immediately. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places.

Finally there is the completely useless Election Integrity Unit (EIU) in the Arizona Attorney General’s office. They only take online complaints, and are of no assistance.

There is also the Election Protection Hotline:

UPDATE:

https://twitter.com/marceelias/status/1583271080344838144?cxt=HHwWgIDT8Zaq9PgrAAAA