The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced Tuesday that it is deploying staff — including “poll watchers” and “election observers” — to at least 17 states in what it calls a nationwide “election integrity” operation ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The move comes as Republicans intensify attacks on voting rights and election administration following years of false claims about widespread voter fraud and mounting efforts to challenge voting access, fair maps and election results in key states.

And the new operation appears to go beyond traditional poll watching.

  • foggy@lemmy.world
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    10 hours ago

    I think this means if you’re in those states, you should exercise your second amendment right while you exercise your right to vote. I can’t interpret this any other way…?

  • marine_mustang@sh.itjust.works
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    11 hours ago

    Meh, poll watchers have been a thing for a long time. I worked an election where people just had to identify themselves as an observer and we had a little area roped off with chairs for them. The real issue is when ICE starts massing outside of polling centers to cut off access and intimidate people.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      the problem is there’s “Poll watchers” or “observers” who get their little area and get to watch everything from there, and that’s cool. and then there’s the Republikkkan’s “poll watchers” who show up armed and start shouting things like “THAT GUY IS ILLEGAL” and shit for every not-white-dude coming through and trying to get people thrown out.

      ICE is also a huge problem, yes.

    • marine_mustang@sh.itjust.works
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      7 hours ago

      So apparently people think that I meant it wasn’t happening yet, while I meant the exact opposite. Ignore what the RNC is doing, focus on what ICE is doing.

    • YappyMonotheist@lemmy.world
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      11 hours ago

      They’re already killing and kidnapping people in broad daylight, do you think it won’t go that way when the time comes? 🤔 It’s not like the third of Americans who are amoral white supremacists/imperialists would be against it.