{"id":2336000,"date":"2024-09-03T08:20:55","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T12:20:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rnc-pa-dems-recruited-out-of-state-poll-watchers-defying-law\/"},"modified":"2024-09-03T08:29:18","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T12:29:18","slug":"rnc-pa-dems-recruited-out-of-state-poll-watchers-defying-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rnc-pa-dems-recruited-out-of-state-poll-watchers-defying-law\/","title":{"rendered":"RNC: PA Dems Recruited Out-Of-State Poll Watchers, Defying Law"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frnc-pa-dems-recruited-out-of-state-poll-watchers-defying-law%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2336000&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Pennsylvania Department of State\u2063 recently launched a website aimed at countering election-related misinformation, raising concerns about the role of\u2062 government in monitoring itself, akin to state-run media. In a recent \u2064letter, the Republican\u200c National Committee \u2063(RNC) urged the department \u200cto address alleged\u2062 misinformation regarding\u2062 poll watchers. The \u2062RNC highlighted a recruitment ad \u2062from the \u200bPennsylvania Democratic Party claiming that poll watchers do\u2064 not need \u2063to be \u2064residents of the county where they serve, which contradicts\u2062 state law that requires\u2062 them to be registered voters in that county.\u200b The RNC requested clarification from \u2062Secretary of State Al Schmidt regarding \u2062the legality of such recruitment \u200dand highlighted concerns about the Democratic request for &#8220;Early Vote Monitors&#8221; at election sites, which could potentially disrupt the voting process. The RNC emphasized the need for regulation and clarity to prevent\u200d chaotic situations in polling places.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>It was kind of weird when the Pennsylvania Department of State started a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/en\/agencies\/vote\/elections\/fact-checking-pa-related-election-claims.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/statescoop.com\/pennsylvania-fact-checking-website-2024-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">February<\/a> specifically aimed at &ldquo;combatting damaging misinformation and disinformation&rdquo; about election integrity.<\/p>\n<p>Weird, because, as a check and balance, the media is supposed to watchdog the government (although too often they don&rsquo;t) and yet this is a government-run website telling the public that the government is doing things right. It&rsquo;s akin to state-run media openly favored by socialist regimes. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Now the Republican National Committee (RNC) sent an Aug. 29 letter to the Pennsylvania Department of State asking it to add misinformation it discovered to the state website. It was an opportunity for the Department of State to let its election misinformation website shine.<\/p>\n<p>The RNC noticed the Pennsylvania Democrats&rsquo; website had a recruitment ad seeking volunteers to join its &ldquo;Voter Protection Team&rdquo; to watch the vote. A screenshot saved by the RNC shows the website said, &ldquo;Election Day <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/with-another-election-coming-up-in-days-georgia-is-still-a-mess-with-the-same-players-running-the-same-processes\/\" title=\"With Another Election Coming Up in Days, Georgia Is Still a Mess with the Same Players Running the Same Processes\">poll observers<\/a> must be physically present in Pennsylvania for their shift but do not necessarily have to be Pennsylvania voters.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>\n<div>\n<p>         <span>Image Credit<\/span>Screenshot\/ Republican National Committee       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That is misinformation.<\/p>\n<p>Pennsylvania <a href=\"https:\/\/casetext.com\/statute\/pennsylvania-statutes\/statutes-unconsolidated\/title-25-ps-elections-electoral-districts\/chapter-14-election-code\/article-iv-district-election-officers\/section-2687-appointment-of-watchers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">law<\/a> says a poll watcher &ldquo;must be a qualified registered elector of the county in which the election district for which the watcher was appointed is located.&rdquo; In other words, poll watchers must live in the county where they serve.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Democratic Party cannot be permitted to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/connecticut-to-pay-security-analyst-150000-to-police-election-related-memes\/\" title=\"Connecticut to Pay &quot;Security Analyst&quot; 0,000 To Police Election-Related Memes\">recruit poll watchers<\/a> in violation of the law and flood polling places with unqualified out-of-state poll watchers across the Commonwealth,&rdquo; the RNC letter said. &ldquo;We urge your office to issue a public statement clarifying that poll watchers must be registered voters in the counties in which they serve as poll watchers. We further ask that you post a correction of the PA Dems&rsquo; misinformation and disinformation on the Department of State&rsquo;s &lsquo;FactChecking&rsquo; webpage.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The RNC also called out the Democrat request for&nbsp; &ldquo;Early Vote Monitors&rdquo; to&nbsp; &ldquo;assist voters outside Boards of Election and satellite locations during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hollywood-liberals-dumping-massive-amounts-of-money-into-georgia-senate-runoffs\/\" title=\"Hollywood Liberals Dumping Massive Amounts Of Money Into Georgia Senate Runoffs\">early voting<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The letter was directed to Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt, who oversaw elections in Philadelphia in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When you were a Commissioner in Philadelphia, you took the position that volunteers could <em>not<\/em> observe any activities at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/zuckerberg-used-a-tax-exempt-foundation-to-help-biden-fix-the-2020-election\/\" title=\"Zuckerberg Used a Tax-Exempt Foundation to Help Biden Fix the 2020 Election\">satellite election offices<\/a>, where in-person absentee voting takes place,&rdquo; the RNC letter read. &ldquo;The PA Dems&rsquo; recruitment of &lsquo;Early Vote Monitors&rsquo; threatens chaos at satellite election offices, especially if these monitors attempt to engage in observation of voting activities. For the benefit of all candidates and political parties, please clarify the scope of permissible activities with respect to observation at satellite election offices and whether the PA Dems&rsquo; proposed activities are consistent with the position you took as a Commissioner in Philadelphia.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Pennsylvania Democrats did not respond to a request for comment on this story. But the Pennsylvania Democrat Party has reworded its website, and in the process, revealed some of its Election Day strategy. <\/p>\n<p>Wannabe volunteers who click through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mobilize.us\/2024pavictory\/event\/646045\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">volunteer page<\/a> will find new instructions based on whether they stand inside or outside. &ldquo;Poll Observers must be physically present in PA for their shift. In order to be an inside poll observer, you must be a registered PA voter and you must have a certificate from your local County Board of Elections. Both PA voters and non-PA Voters can volunteer as outside poll observers (at least 10 ft. outside the polling place).&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Pennsylvania law prevents electioneering within 10 feet of the polling place. But any member of the public may be in the parking lot or on sidewalks, further than 10 feet away &mdash; say 11 feet.<\/p>\n<p>This advertisement recruiting potentially out-of-state volunteers is a strong indicator that voters across battleground Pennsylvania will run into intense pressure from many party supporters to vote Democrat on their way into the polling place. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Pennsylvania Department of State did not respond to a request from The Federalist for comment on this story. And it has not addressed the information previously posted on the Democrat website by putting it onto the Department of State <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/en\/agencies\/vote\/elections\/fact-checking-pa-related-election-claims.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">web page<\/a> that logs alleged misinformation.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Beth Brelje is an elections correspondent for The Federalist. She is an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lara-logan-challenges-media-to-ask-certain-questions-about-afghanistan\/\" title=\"Lara Logan Challenges Media To Ask Certain Questions About Afghanistan\">award-winning investigative journalist<\/a> with decades of media experience.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In February, the Pennsylvania Department of State launched a website designed to &#8220;combat damaging misinformation and disinformation&#8221; regarding election integrity, which felt unusual. This is because the media is typically expected to serve as a watchdog over the government\u2014though they often fail to do so\u2014yet here we have a government-operated site asserting that it is managing things correctly. This situation resembles state-run media commonly associated with socialist governments.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, on August 29, the Republican National Committee (RNC) sent a letter to the Pennsylvania Department of State requesting that it include misinformation they identified on its website. The RNC pointed out that the Pennsylvania Democrats&#8217; site had an ad seeking volunteers for their &#8220;Voter Protection Team,&#8221; stating that &#8220;Election Day poll observers must be physically present in Pennsylvania for their shift but do not necessarily have to be Pennsylvania voters.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>This claim contradicts state law, which stipulates that poll watchers must be registered voters in the county where they are serving. The RNC&#8217;s letter emphasized that allowing out-of-state individuals to act as poll watchers would violate this law and urged officials to clarify this requirement publicly while correcting the misinformation on their fact-checking webpage.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the RNC criticized another Democratic initiative seeking &#8220;Early Vote Monitors&#8221; who would assist voters outside election boards during early voting periods. They reminded Secretary of State Al Schmidt about his previous stance against allowing volunteers at satellite election offices during his time as Commissioner in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n<p>While there was no immediate response from Pennsylvania Democrats regarding these claims, they did update their recruitment page with new guidelines indicating different requirements for inside versus outside poll observers. Inside observers must be registered PA voters with certification from local election boards; however, both PA residents and non-residents can volunteer as outside observers positioned at least 10 feet away from polling places.<\/p>\n<p>This recruitment effort suggests potential pressure on voters in key areas of Pennsylvania from party supporters encouraging them to vote Democrat as they approach polling locations. The Department of State has yet to respond or address any previously posted information by Democrats related to alleged misinformation on its own platform<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":2336001,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Capitol-Building2.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3685,33739,5836,39967,6915],"class_list":["post-2336000","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democrats","tag-election-law","tag-pennsylvania","tag-poll-watchers","tag-rnc"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Capitol-Building2.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336000","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2336000"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2336000\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2336001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2336000"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2336000"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2336000"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}