{"id":2364008,"date":"2024-11-04T18:30:02","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T23:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-sue-milwaukee-election-officials-over-poll-watching-limitations-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-11-04T18:32:32","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T23:32:32","slug":"republicans-sue-milwaukee-election-officials-over-poll-watching-limitations-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-sue-milwaukee-election-officials-over-poll-watching-limitations-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Republicans sue Milwaukee election officials over poll watching limitations &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"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\">24<\/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%2Frepublicans-sue-milwaukee-election-officials-over-poll-watching-limitations-washington-examiner%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=2364008&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 Republican National Committee (RNC) has\u200d filed\u200c a lawsuit \u200bagainst the Milwaukee Election Commission, claiming that the commission is unlawfully restricting the\u2064 number of\u200c poll watchers at several polling\u2063 locations. Specifically, the RNC alleges\u200d that at the Serb Hall, Good \u2064Hope Library, and Capitol \u2064Drive Voting\u2063 Center, only \u200btwo to four poll watchers are allowed at each \u2063site during early voting, despite these\u2062 venues being able to accommodate more.<\/p>\n<p>In their complaint, RNC attorneys argue that the limitations on observer access are \u200darbitrary and violate \u2063state laws intended to ensure balanced representation of poll watchers from both political parties.\u2063 Poll watching in \u200cWisconsin is\u200d generally less restrictive than in other states, allowing for more flexibility in who can serve\u2062 as\u200d a watcher, but the RNC claims that the restrictions enacted by the \u2063Milwaukee commission could lead to increased potential for electoral fraud, as fewer\u2062 observers may make it easier to manipulate \u200dthe voting process.\u2064 The commission,\u200b on the other hand, contends that the RNC acted in\u2064 bad faith\u2063 and that the \u200cnumber of observers allowed is reasonable under\u200b Wisconsin law.  <\/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<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Republicans sue Milwaukee election officials over poll watching limitations<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1868522\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-national-committee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Republican National Committee\">Republican National Committee<\/a> sued election officials in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/milwaukee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Republican National Committee\">Milwaukee<\/a> on Monday, one day before the election, over allegations they have been unlawfully limiting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/polls\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">poll<\/a> watchers in at least three polling locations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>RNC attorneys wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/prod-static.gop.com\/media\/documents\/MKE_Summons_and_Complaint_filed_no_stamp_1730742648.pdf?_gl=1*1o8xx7t*_gcl_au*MTc0OTQzMjk2Mi4xNzI0MjUwMTUx&amp;_ga=2.16925051.314399657.1730750093-2015778345.1724250151\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">complaint<\/a> that the deep-blue city&rsquo;s Election Commission limited the number of poll watchers permitted in Serb Hall, Good Hope Library, and Capitol Drive Voting Center to two or four per location during early voting.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Space for observers was arbitrarily limited,&rdquo; the attorneys wrote, adding that the facilities &ldquo;can accommodate far more observers&rdquo; than what the commission permitted.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3202058\/republicans-poll-watching-operation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Poll watching<\/a> in most states, including Wisconsin, is governed by state law. It typically involves the state granting access to a set number of designated Republican and Democratic poll watchers to observe voters at polling places on Election Day and watch over the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/georgia-court-of-appeals-revives-2020-fulton-county-counterfeit-ballot-inspection-case\/\" title=\"Georgia Appeals Court reopens 2020 Fulton County fake ballot inspection case.\">ballot counting process<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In Wisconsin, a top battleground in 2024, poll-watching rules are less restrictive than in other swing states, as they do not require the watchers to have been recruited by a political party or candidate. However, as the RNC attorneys noted, election officials should, according to state law, make their best efforts to give poll watchers from both parties balanced representation where possible.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog\/2024-election-campaign-live-updates-harris-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2024 ELECTIONS LIVE UPDATES: LATEST NEWS ON THE TRUMP-HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL RACE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The RNC attorneys said drastically limiting poll watchers down to two per site increases the possibility of fraud.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When access is arbitrarily restricted to two persons, it opens the door to fraudulent claims of party affiliation so as to &lsquo;freeze out&rsquo; one or the other major party,&rdquo; the attorneys wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Election Commission Chairman Terrell Martin did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Poll watchers and workers have long been a pillar of the election process for both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/canadian-parliament-votes-unanimously-to-recognize-chinas-genocide\/\" title=\"Canadian Parliament Votes Unanimously To Recognize China\u2019s Genocide\">major political parties<\/a>, but the jobs, which are typically filled by volunteers, have become a source of lawsuits amid a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">heavily litigated election season<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Republicans unsuccessfully argued in a lawsuit in Fulton County, Georgia, last month that an election director ignored the vast majority of Republican poll worker applications and instead turned to a third-party company to provide temp workers. Missouri&rsquo;s Republican secretary of state sued the Department of Justice on Monday over claims it was inappropriately sending poll monitors to observe voting activity in St. Louis. <\/p>\n<p>Republicans also claimed over the weekend that Fulton County election workers were inappropriately shutting out poll watchers at a handful of election offices. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said the problem was later rectified.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1868522\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1868522\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Republicans sue Milwaukee officials over poll watcher limits<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":2364009,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Michael-Whatley_vv1.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[34685,7674,43689,3756,7170],"class_list":["post-2364008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-election-officials","tag-milwaukee","tag-poll-watching","tag-republicans","tag-sue"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Michael-Whatley_vv1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2364008","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\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2364008"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2364008\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2364012,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2364008\/revisions\/2364012"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2364009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2364008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2364008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2364008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}