As the United States of America enters the final days of an important election period, there have been signs that voter intimidation may occur. This happens when people basically scare each other at the polling places.
Donald Trump is running for re-election for a second term as president. Joe Biden, a former vice president under Barack Obama, is Trump’s Democratic opponent. There has been so much hatred expressed in both campaigns that this election has been marked as extremely important.
Trump has encouraged his people to monitor polling places. That can make you vote for harassment.
Voting harassment is nothing new. It has happened in the past. There is a danger that it will happen this year because some people in power have said that the elections will be unfair and unfair. Some people will take care to try to make sure the choice is correct. By doing so, they can intimidate voters.
The people who have been the targets of voter intimidation in the past have been primarily black and other people of color, as well as immigrants. The opposition considered that their votes were meaningless.
This election year has been very unusual. More hatred has been expressed than ever. High levels of hateful rhetoric have caused tensions to rise. People are not afraid to show their hatred.
Far-right extremists and self-proclaimed self-defense groups have said they will monitor polling places. Your appearance alone will serve to intimidate people who are trying to vote. They will try to scare voters out of voting if they feel they might vote the wrong way.
The battlefield states are especially expected to be affected by electoral harassment.
Many people in the United States will vote by mail. They are unlikely to be intimidated in voting. Your mail on the ballots can be placed in the mailbox or in special ballot boxes for collecting ballots. People are not likely to use their intimidation tactics in these places.
Millions of people have already voted early. There doesn’t seem to be much intimidation of voters at those polling places.
It can happen on the last day of voting, which had been the usual way people voted until this year. Changes were made due to the coronavirus pandemic and the issues that arose with that issue.
Voters need to know and realize that bullying when voting is against the law. There are federal and state laws. People can report such behavior to the authorities. It should not be tolerated.