What to do when being harass in voting line.

[Bruce7]

I know it is very close to being poltic and I don't want that.
But really should people carry weapons to vote? I hope not.
I have never had this happen to me before.
I am still shaking.

Dan Crensaw people ganged up on me in the voting line.
I was so upset, I could hardly vote.
I said nothing to them.
I would not take their Dan Crensaw sticker.
So they started asking why are you voting for Biden.
At first I still said nothing, but thier were two of them and neither were wearing mask.
I final said because I am not a loser or a sucher.
Then they said Trump did not say that and Biden was the one who said it.
It went down hill from there.
I watch them and prepare my self, thankfully no one hit me.
They stopped at the 100 ft mark.

 

[Steve]

I know it is very close to being poltic and I don't want that.
But really should people carry weapons to vote? I hope not.
I have never had this happen to me before.
I am still shaking.

Dan Crensaw people ganged up on me in the voting line.
I was so upset, I could hardly vote.
I said nothing to them.
I would not take their Dan Crensaw sticker.
So they started asking why are you voting for Biden.
At first I still said nothing, but thier were two of them and neither were wearing mask.
I final said because I am not a loser or a sucher.
Then they said Trump did not say that and Biden was the one who said it.
It went down hill from there.
I watch them and prepare my self, thankfully no one hit me.
They stopped at the 100 ft mark.

Yikes. Glad you were able to vote, and I'm sorry you ran into trouble.

 

[geezer]

Weapons??? ...at the polling place??? NO! ....just NO.

Voting is normally a very safe activity. But if you are afraid to go to the polls on election day, maybe your state offers alternatives?

I quietly dropped my ballot at a box at the local Post Office branch this Monday so it would go out first thing Tuesday morning. In AZ we've been doing mail-in ballots safely and conveniently for nearly 30 years. We also have ballot drop boxes placed and monitored by the county recorder's office.

 

[Flying Crane]

We live in an ugly time.

I was in line in a store and a woman got in line right behind me. She had on a mask, but left very little space. I simply asked her, politely, if she would please back up and give me some more space. She did, with a good attitude, and there was no problem.

Sounds like that might not have worked on these fellows. But it’s a place to start, at least to establish a baseline of courtesy without jumping straight to aggression. If they get aggressive then that is on them.

If you were inside the polling place, I would assume weapons are not allowed and polling staff ought to escort them out.

If you are in line outside of the polling place, then weapons may or may not be legal, depending on local laws and how close to the polling place you are. Some places are experiencing disgracefully long lines and you could be far enough out that you are beyond the no-weapons boundaries for polling places.

At any rate, a good response would simply be, “guys, I’m here to vote and I’m not interested in discussing it with you. Please give me some appropriate space”. Keep it neutral.

If they can’t give you that courtesy, then perhaps take a picture and call 911.

 

[geezer]

BTW if anybody harasses you at the polling place, calmly ask them to leave you alone and inform them that if they don't you'll call 911. Interfering and threatening people trying to vote isn't something the authorities take lightly. See below:

How to Report Voter Intimidation, and How to Spot It (Published 2018)

 

[Hanzou]

I can't wait until November 4th.

 

[Flying Crane]

BTW if anybody harasses you at the polling place, calmly ask them to leave you alone and inform them that if they don't you'll call 911. Interfering and threatening people trying to vote isn't something the authorities take lightly. See below:

How to Report Voter Intimidation, and How to Spot It (Published 2018)

Agreed. I forgot to add in my previous post: even if you are in line outside far enough away from the actual voting location that weapons are legal on any normal day, it is absolutely illegal for them to be acting in a way as to be intimidating to voters.

For example, if they are openly carrying weapons and are walking up and down the line suggesting to people who they ought to be voting for, that would be illegal intimidation. Also, I believe all campaigning activity is illegal within a certain distance from a polling place, on voting days. So if they are carrying signs for a candidate, or handing out stickers or flyers, and are within those limits, that also is illegal.

 

[Steve]

Weapons??? ...at the polling place??? NO! ....just NO.

Voting is normally a very safe activity. But if you are afraid to go to the polls on election day, maybe your state offers alternatives?

I quietly dropped my ballot at a box at the local Post Office branch this Monday so it would go out first thing Tuesday morning. In AZ we've been doing mail-in ballots safely and conveniently for nearly 30 years. We also have ballot drop boxes placed and monitored by the county recorder's office.

My folks are in AZ and they dropped their ballots off at city hall.

@geezer , you probably know this, but Texas is a little crazy in the best of times, and with the GOP looking for goons to intimidate voters, it's not a good situation.

 

[Bruce7]

Thank you much for your coments. It is making me feel better. I am gald also no one make it political.

 

[Flying Crane]

Another approach that might be effective would be to simply agree with them. They tell you that you ought to vote for candidate X. Tell them, yup guys, I’m on it, thanks! They move along, and you vote for candidate Y. They don’t know any difference.

Conflict is easy to avoid, if you give them nothing to grab onto. I know it is tempting to confront them and it is justified. But sometimes there is an easier path, and the don’t know any different anyways.

I would still report the harassment to the appropriate authorities.

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

Agreed. I forgot to add in my previous post: even if you are in line outside far enough away from the actual voting location that weapons are legal on any normal day, it is absolutely illegal for them to be acting in a way as to be intimidating to voters.

For example, if they are openly carrying weapons and are walking up and down the line suggesting to people who they ought to be voting for, that would be illegal intimidation. Also, I believe all campaigning activity is illegal within a certain distance from a polling place, on voting days. So if they are carrying signs for a candidate, or handing out stickers or flyers, and are within those limits, that also is illegal.

I think that's the 100ft away that Bruce was talking about..not sure if that's a state by state thing. Either way, yeah. The best option would be to either lie and tell them you're voting for whomever they're asking you to vote for (then vote for who you want), or just inform them you're calling the police. The people doing this aren't people who are wanting to get in any trouble, and (hopefully) are smart enough that they realize having the police called on for this will hurt their guys chances.

Still, none of that should ever be necessary. This sounds like something from the early 1900s (although I know it still happens today).

 

[Flying Crane]

I think that's the 100ft away that Bruce was talking about..not sure if that's a state by state thing.

Ah yes, I missed that part.

Still, none of that should ever be necessary. This sounds like something from the early 1900s (although I know it still happens today).

Unfortunately it sounds just like something from 2020.

 

[Bruce7]

I was calm until they got in my face and then he back away before I hit him. I believe in hitting first in a fight especially when there are 2 of them.
I have not been in a fight since my early 20's, I would have probably got my *** kicked, they were way bigger than me.

 

[Bruce7]

I think that's the 100ft away that Bruce was talking about..not sure if that's a state by state thing. Either way, yeah. The best option would be to either lie and tell them you're voting for whomever they're asking you to vote for (then vote for who you want), or just inform them you're calling the police. The people doing this aren't people who are wanting to get in any trouble, and (hopefully) are smart enough that they realize having the police called on for this will hurt their guys chances.

Still, none of that should ever be necessary. This sounds like something from the early 1900s (although I know it still happens today).

Your right , If I would have taken their sticker it would have been no problem. My mistake.

 

[Flying Crane]

I was calm until they got in my face and then he back away before I hit him. I believe in hitting first in a fight especially when there are 2 of them.
I have not been in a fight since my early 20's, I would have probably got my *** kicked, they were way bigger than me.

I’m glad you didn’t. It would not have ended well and could have dragged you into some legal proceedings, even if you are eventually cleared of wrong-doing. Don’t take the bait. That is what they want you to do. They want you to turn it ugly.

 

[Bruce7]

Ah yes, I missed that part.


Unfortunately it sounds just like something from 2020.

In Texas they can get no closer than 100 feet of the voting build.
It worked fine before covid.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

neither were wearing mask.

May be the best way to deal with those no-mask people is to cough at them as hard as you can. Sometime I feel my lifetime MA training is useless. A 15 years old who coughs at me can make me run like hell.

When I walk on the street, if I see a no-mask person, I will turn around. After I have turned around, if I see another no-mask person, I will make a right or left turn. Again, if I see another no-mask person, I truly don't have any place to run.

 

[Buka]

I can't wait until November 4th.

I can't wait until it's over, so I don't have to listen to any more politics.

This year reminds me of the Three Stooges episode where they ask the Stooges if they want their head chopped off or get burned at the stake.

 

[JowGaWolf]

We live in an ugly time.

I was in line in a store and a woman got in line right behind me. She had on a mask, but left very little space. I simply asked her, politely, if she would please back up and give me some more space. She did, with a good attitude, and there was no problem.

Sounds like that might not have worked on these fellows. But it’s a place to start, at least to establish a baseline of courtesy without jumping straight to aggression. If they get aggressive then that is on them.

If you were inside the polling place, I would assume weapons are not allowed and polling staff ought to escort them out.

If you are in line outside of the polling place, then weapons may or may not be legal, depending on local laws and how close to the polling place you are. Some places are experiencing disgracefully long lines and you could be far enough out that you are beyond the no-weapons boundaries for polling places.

At any rate, a good response would simply be, “guys, I’m here to vote and I’m not interested in discussing it with you. Please give me some appropriate space”. Keep it neutral.

If they can’t give you that courtesy, then perhaps take a picture and call 911.

yeah. I would have filmed, taken pictures, called 911 and posted video of it in facebook, then I would contact my representatives and share it with them. I would make it an eye sore for officials. So they couldn't just sweep it under the carpet.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

I can't wait until it's over,

After we get a new president. Everybody wear face-mask in US, I'll no longer run away from no-mask people, life will go back to normal again.

Those no-mask people mess up my daily running. When I run, if I see a no-mask person, I will turn around. After I have turned around many times, I lose tracking my running distance. This bother me big time.