Tuesday was a big day in California as Golden State voters went to the polls – but there was extra excitement (not the good kind) in Siskiyou County on the Oregon border, where the county sheriff engaged in a series of pre-Election Day actions that he said were intended to prevent voter fraud but were widely criticized as voter intimidation. The Redding Record Searchlight had the story on Election Day:
The state Attorney General’s Office representatives are in Siskiyou County today after reports Sheriff Jon Lopey has been intimidating residents of Hmong descent to keep them from voting in today’s election.
Representatives of the Secretary of State’s Office also went to the county to monitor voting there, said Rachele Huennekens, a spokeswoman for Attorney General’s Office.
“The California Attorney General’s office is assisting the Secretary of State’s office to monitor polling places in Siskiyou County, and ensure that all voters are able to cast their ballot free from intimidation, interference, or threats of violence,” Huennekens said.
“We are specifically monitoring reports of alleged voter intimidation among vulnerable minority populations, such as the Hmong community. Anyone who witnesses or is subject to voter intimidation should report it to the Secretary of State’s office,” she said…..
The full story has yet to emerge, but this kind of law enforcement activity – especially the kind of visits and checkpoints with armed(?!) officers seen here – is highly unusual and deeply troubling. It will be interesting to see if and how state and even federal officials react; voter intimidation in a federal election like Tuesday’s primary can trigger civil or criminal enforcement of federal civil rights laws. Fortunately, this kind of activity is increasingly rare – but I have no doubt it was a scary few days for voters (especially Hmong voters) in Siskiyou.
Obviously, there’s more of the story to come … stay tuned.