Democrats recruit 100 observers for midterm elections amid fears of Trump interference
Amman2 min read
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US Senate Democrats said on Wednesday that they have recruited and trained more than 100 congressional staffers to monitor polling and vote-counting operations in the midterm elections scheduled for November, amid concerns over interference by President Donald Trump's administration.
Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Alex Padilla told reporters that the observers will be deployed in nine states that are witnessing intense competition in these elections, including Ohio, Georgia, and Michigan.
Their mission will be to document potential cases of voter intimidation, threats directed at delegates, and other irregularities, including those that may occur during the counting of votes and the certification of results following the voting on November 3.
This initiative comes amid growing concern among Democrats and rights groups regarding Trump's repeated claims about election fraud and his refusal to rule out the possibility of extraordinary federal interference in the vicinity of polling stations.
Schumer said, "It is not Donald Trump's right to decide who votes. It is not his right to decide which votes are counted."
For his part, Padilla, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Rules Committee, explained that the observers may remain in their positions for days or even weeks after the election if necessary.
He added, "I wouldn't put anything past the Trump administration to try to interfere in the election," warning that Democrats are preparing for the possibility of Republicans challenging the results.
The Department of Justice says its efforts to monitor elections are aimed at ensuring compliance with voting laws and protecting the integrity of elections.
For his part, Padilla stressed that the new observers will have no role in administering the election or handling ballots, and clarified, "They are not there to interfere, nor to cause confusion."
