Posted on 10/30/2022 10:38:21 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
“A federal judge Friday refused to bar a group from monitoring outdoor ballot boxes in Arizona’s largest county where watchers have shown up armed and in ballistic vests, saying to do so could violate the monitors’ constitutional rights,” the Associated Press reported.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Liburdi said the case remained open and that the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans could try again to make its argument against a group called Clean Elections USA.
Victory for election integrity
Dems are gonna be upsethttps://t.co/q9Z0IyZTWy
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) October 29, 2022
NEW: several people have been sitting outside the Maricopa County elections headquarters in Arizona outside 1 of 2 ballot drop boxes.
They have their own cameras rolling, pointed right at the drop box.
A woman here says she is here to get Vitamin D. @Garrett_Archer @abc15 pic.twitter.com/olVYyMfBJU
— Nicole Grigg (@NicoleSGrigg) October 20, 2022
Breaking News: Activists can stake out ballot boxes in Arizona, a federal judge ruled. Voting rights groups have called the tactic voter intimidation. https://t.co/h8BtXVJoW8
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 28, 2022
Here’s background info from the Associated Press:
Local and federal law enforcement have been alarmed by reports of people, including some who were masked and armed, watching 24-hour ballot boxes in Maricopa County — Arizona’s most populous county — and rural Yavapai County as midterm elections near. Some voters have complained alleging voter intimidation after people watching the boxes took photos and videos, and followed voters.
Arizona law states electioneers and monitors must remain 75-foot (23-meter) from a voting location.
While voting rights groups claim the ballot box monitoring constitutes voter intimidation, the plaintiffs could NOT provide any evidence the Defendants made any threats.
“Plaintiffs have not provided the Court with any evidence that Defendants’ conduct constitutes a true threat,” the judge wrote.
“On this record, Defendants have not made any statements threatening to commit acts of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals.”
Liburdi concluded that “while this case certainly presents serious questions, the Court cannot craft an injunction without violating the First Amendment.”
The Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans said it was disappointed.
“We continue to believe that Clean Elections USA’s intimidation and harassment is unlawful,” it said, adding it would “seek immediate appellate review and emergency relief.”
“watchers have shown up armed and in ballistic vests”
Oooh they are scaring the poor voters. /s
OUTLAW ballot drop boxes. There is absolutely no need.
At a minimum, put them in the Registrar’s office under police guard.
I haven’t seen photos. Have you?
If the New Black Panthers can stand outside a polling station on Election Day brandishing nightsticks then too bad with this liberals.
So what keeps Democrats from showing up armed and vested to the box watch?
Are there no dims in AZ who don’t yet have felonies?
The judge is not “allowing” this. He’s saying there is no legal authority to block it.
Big difference there.
A good point. Typically, a deciding judge who was cogent, would require some proof of charges for the record, before deciding to take the case.
Otherwise, he risks his judgment might be appealed and overturned.
A better point, well made.
Boom.
Big problem for RAT AZ Mules.
“brandishing nightsticks”
I suspect there was something a bit more lethal under those jackets and baggy pants.
Can’t mules just put stamps on them and mail them? Just looked at mine... No postage necessary.
The boxes are illegal in the first place.
Set the boxes on fire. End of problem.
And Open Carry has been legal in Arizona since forever (except, I think, within the city limits of Tombstone).
There is nothing inherently contradictory about assembling peaceably and armed. After all, an armed society is a polite society.
“I haven’t seen photos. Have you?”
No, I pulled the quote from the article.
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