A group that has been monitoring ballot boxes in Arizona was sued for allegedly intimidating voters, according to reports.
The suit, which was filed on Oct. 24 by the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino, accuses Clean Elections USA and its founder, Melody Jennings, of violating federal law, including the Voting Rights Act.
“No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person for voting or attempting to vote, or intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person for urging or aiding any person to vote or attempt to vote,” the law states.
For weeks, Jennings has been rallying members and supporters to gather in Maricopa County to watch people drop off ballots.
“We must legally deter people from committing voter fraud,” the group’s website states. “The only way we can do this is to monitor those drop box locations with a team of volunteers. That is why we’re reaching out to patriots like yourself who have similar concerns. In short, we need your help!”
Some of the observers were reportedly armed and told a local reporter that they were with Clean Elections USA.
“The tactics being used by Clean Elections USA aren’t just profoundly dangerous to voters in Arizona, they’re an affront to the fundamental principles of our democracy,” Maria Teresa Kumar, president and CEO of Voto Latino, said in a statement.
Voto Latino is seeking a temporary restraining order prohibiting Jennings’ group from gathering “within sight of drop boxes” and from following or recording voters or prospective voters at or around drop boxes.
If imposed, Clean Elections USA would also be barred from “training, organizing, or directing” people to monitor drop boxes.
In response to the lawsuit, Jennings posted on Truth Social that observers should follow the law, saying: “Knowing that we the citizens of the United States are protecting the rule of law is very satisfying.”
The case was filed in federal court in Arizona. Under state law, being armed or trying to persuade voters within 75 feet of a voting location is prohibited.
