Election officials raise concerns over bill that would let Trump send Secret Service to polls

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill



BY JOHN BOWDEN - 03/10/18 10:09 PM EST

More than a dozen top election officials across the country are raising concerns about a provision in a Homeland Security Department reauthorization bill that would allow President Trump to dispatch Secret Service agents to polling places.

A letter signed by 19 bipartisan secretaries of state to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) demands the Senate leave out a proposal from final legislation that would allow Secret Service agents to accompany lawmakers to polling places when they vote.

“This is an alarming proposal which raises the possibility that armed federal agents will be patrolling neighborhood precincts and vote centers,” reads a letter obtained by The Boston Globe.

“There is no discernible need for federal secret service agents to intrude, at the direction of the president, who may also be a candidate in that election, into thousands of citadels where democracy is enshrined," the letter continues.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/377800-election-officials-raise-concerns-over-bill-that-would-let-trump-send

[Nictuku]

1. This should be front page news K&R!

[riversedge]

9. REC to vote it up of DU at least. But, yes, it should be on front of all newspapers across

the land. damn!

[PoliticAverse]

2. How does "accompany lawmakers to polling places when they vote" become...

"patrolling neighborhood precincts and vote centers".

was a response to a 2016 incident in which poll workers stopped agents from accompanying a lawmaker to vote over concerns it violated federal law.

When incumbent presidents go to vote they secret service agents shouldn't be allowed to accompany them into
polling places?

[TomSlick]

5. Yeah, everyone should take a deep breath.

There are a limited number of Secret Service protected persons who will, or course, be accompanied by armed agents.

[Kablooie]

16. They might hire a ton of rabid NRA members to be deputized for a short time.

Don't rely on rational logic to save you.

[DiverDave]

12. Nice try.

Has there been any problems when elected officials vote?
And not prople being mean and hurting the poor little snowflakes feelings.
NOT ONCE.
So to open this up is to allow armed federal agents to enter polling places.
No, HELL NO

[Sam McGee]

3. This is my understanding of what's happening

Concerns are being raised about an obscure section in HR 2825, the Dept of Homeland Security Authorization Act. HR 2825 was passed by the House and now is in the Senate.

HR 2825 Section 4012, which is causing concern in some quarters, reads:
“ This section shall not prevent any officer or agent of the United States Secret Service from providing armed protective services authorized under section 3056 or pursuant to a Presidential memorandum at any place where a general or special election is held.”.


18 USC Sec 592 makes it a crime for any officer of the United States -- military or civilian -- to bring "armed men" into a polling place.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/592


Section 4012 would authorize Secret Service agents "pursuant to a Presidential memorandum" to enter a polling place. While Secret Service agents currently enter polling places when protecting the President or other official (or when voting themselves), the concern is that this change would enable the President to dispatch Secret Service agents to a polling place in an attempt to intimidate voters, especially in Hispanic or other minority areas.

Here's a link to the legislation. It's LONG, very long. Scroll down to Section 4012.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2825/text


Here's a Boston Globe article that expresses concern over this matter.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2018/03/09/top-elections-officials-raise-alarm-over-allowing-trump-new-authority-over-polling-places/qvdmfTe7N7AFZXl0k4CwEO/story.html


As you see, the Globe article quotes Massachusetts officials as saying this is a ploy by Trump to enable him to send Secret Service agents to polling places to intimidate voters -- for example -- federal officers showing up in a heavily-minority (or majority-minority) polling place (Hispanic, African-American, etc.) could intimidate minority voters.

I'm just suspicious enough of Trump to think this is EXACTLY what he's doing.

[scipan]

15. yeah, why add 'or pursuant to a presidential memorandum'?

If it just said they're allowed to enter for the sole purpose of "providing armed protective services authorized under section 3056" period that would be ok with me. Why add that, and "at any place where a general or special election is held", not just the person's polling place?

[Corgigal]

4. They have no jurisdiction...

But hey, ..

Trump can't read their Justice Dept of Treasury procures. FBI can,but he wouldn't want to do that.

[notdarkyet]

6. This is just BS. Just because trump can think of something like parades and trade wars

Doesn’t mean it is good or right to do. So why does everyone bow down and kiss his ring and acquiesce to his every little whim that his childish mind can spew on the spur of a moment from childish impulses and emotions that most adults learn to control. Why can’t we be rid of him now. The sooner the better. All we are, all we believe and all we hold dear is at stake.

[TheFrenchRazor]

7. gotta make sure any troublesome recounts or election security measures get shut down. nt

[Achilleaze]

8. republicans against America

Did their russian masters put them up to this?

[lark]

10. Such troubling news,it's really scary.

It could be the end of our right to vote. He sends out his storm troopers to any district that's voting against hm and stops the voting, impounds the machines and refuses to release them until he can have (Russia?) manipulate them to look like theres been cheating. Russian Repugs in SCOTUS refuse to stop this and let him steal the election, going along with the traitorous complicit Russian Repug congress.

[radliberal]

11. Gestapo purges

deceived and being deceived...when will these fools NEVER learn?

[onetexan]

13. clearly an attempt to thwart voters from coming to the polls

this is an OUTRAGE!!

[A Morpheus Felinae]

14. Here in Washington State

we vote by mail. Is the Boiled Ham-in-a-Wig going to send his storm troopers to minority homes to intimidate voters? Is the Fascist, loofa-faced shit-gibbon going to have his armed federal agents patrolling my neighborhood to spy on me and my neighbors to see who we vote for? Knowing his admiration for thugs and dictators I wouldn't put this past him. Fortunately, I doubt The Halfwit, Tweet-Twit has sufficient agents to pull this off ... yet.

Good god almighty. Make this shit stop!