Mere hours into Election Day, people on the ground in the battleground state of Pennsylvania are reporting potential election interference, voter suppression, and polling place election code violations.
While voter turnout appears to be high in Philadelphia, shortly after polls opened this morning, there were reports of long lines, broken polling machines, and polling place violations such as allowing campaign material and campaigning for certain candidates on-site, despite state Election Code prohibitions on electioneering at polling locations.
This is our polling place in NE Philadelphia. Already a violation in sight. @PhillyROCTeam @mikeroman @phillyvotes @Richzeoli @ChrisStigall @EddieCaiazzo @DomShow1210 pic.twitter.com/WPZ60T0L19
— A. Benjamin Mannes (@PublicSafetySME) November 3, 2020
SPOTTED: Biden-Harris literature posted on either side of the entrance to the polling place located at 630-48 North 66th Street.
That’s certainly not 10 feet away! pic.twitter.com/zBaDbYmIQd
— Philly GOP (@PhillyGOP) November 3, 2020
ILLEGAL campaigning INSIDE of a polling location in Philly. Man in blue is handing out DEM literature to voters IN LINE TO VOTE. This is why DEMS are keeping TRUMP WATCHERS OUT. They are STEALING it! This needs to STOP! pic.twitter.com/qnJ3D8o2ie
— Mike Roman (@mikeroman) November 3, 2020
Getting texts from multiple PA folks I trust about shenanigans there. Poll watchers excluded from polling places, closed polls in specifically GOP-heavy areas, etc. Silence from the folks screaming that requiring ID or not allowing 10-day-late ballots are voter suppression.
— Inez Stepman ⚪️🔴⚪️ (@InezFeltscher) November 3, 2020
Poll watchers in the area were also reportedly denied access to certain polling places despite being certified to enter in any ward or division in Philadelphia. Some were even kicked out of certain locations across the city.
Here’s the poll watcher’s certificate
It makes clear that it allows the holder to watch at any polling place in the city pic.twitter.com/0lRgIFekKg
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) November 3, 2020
Oh look! A Democratic committeewoman in north Philly wearing a Biden mask not letting certified Republican poll watchers into a polling place… She ends with "that rule ain't worth being followed" when someone says they should be allowed inside. pic.twitter.com/7646fTi2in
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) November 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/PhillyGOP/status/1323610207054868481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1323610207054868481%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthefederalist.com%2F2020%2F11%2F03%2Freports-of-election-interference-surface-at-philadelphia-polling-locations%2F
Other poll watchers were obstructed from watching after being placed on the other side of the building, almost completely out of the line of sight to the polling machines.
MORE Bad things happening in Philly. Dem election officials have avoided transparency & accountability at every step. NOW they’re keeping our poll watchers so far from the counting tables there’s NO WAY to ACTUALLY observe. What are they hiding?? THIS MUST STOP!!! pic.twitter.com/r1YlkZokAa
— Mike Roman (@mikeroman) November 3, 2020
Troubling news in @Allegheny_Co,PA. Election officials blocking observation of absentee ballot processing. One official at site allegedly boasts the system is designed to block ballot observation. Source says observers fear integrity is compromise. @KerriKupecDOJ #Election2020
— Stephen Moore (@StephenMoore) November 3, 2020
According to the Philly GOP, some polling locations were also not open on time, voters were turned away for wearing political gear, and Republican voters were being denied provisional ballots.
Those nasty, crafty Republicans! Sneaking into polling places and pretending to shove Democrat voting directions down the throats of votes with the evil intent of making them believe Democrats are rule-breaking, law-trampling, lying scumbags and lean more towards the Republicans, who are NOT violating election laws and rules! Sneaky, devious bastards!
Philadelphia voted 113% of eligible voters in 2016. Why should we expect anything different.
@Randy: And Democrats just love it.