Every training conducted by those of us doing such training included instruction about behavior, and that they must be “Peaceful. Lawful. Honest.” Yet, without evidence, the closer we got to Election Day, the more hysterical the headlines became, warning of violence at the polls resulting from too many observers watching the process.
It didn’t happen. There was no violence, and the citizen observers did what they had been trained to do: watch, observe, document, and report. These citizen volunteers fulfilled an important statutory role of transparency in the election process, a fundamental component of the election codes of virtually every state. Not holding my breath that any reporters and news outlets who attacked these volunteers will ever apologize.