It’s being reported that Donald Trump’s campaign is calling for “election observers,” and MTV’s Jamil Smith believes it to be unprecedented:
Trump's campaign site now has a form to register as a "Trump Election Observer." Campaigns simply don't do this. https://t.co/laTnzsocma
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) August 13, 2016
This looks like a sign-up sheet for an Election Day goon squad. Our elders know about this kind of “observation.” pic.twitter.com/rEtWDA4BhH
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) August 13, 2016
The sign-up sheet is actually moot, to be honest. I'd wager that anyone who wants to be a "Trump Election Observer" will now just show up.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) August 13, 2016
Keep this law in mind as this "Trump Election Observer" story unfolds. pic.twitter.com/faEIaaVRVh
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) August 13, 2016
However, it was pointed out that kind of thing is fairly common in election cycles:
we'll see exactly what this looks like, but poll watchers are commonly posted by both sides.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) August 13, 2016
see e.g. https://t.co/PMBwsumZ3C
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) August 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/crushingbort/status/764316300978126848
pls explain why Trump is diff than Clinton https://t.co/m0Xt7L5ldY pic.twitter.com/TN5DkDgO1N
— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) August 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/BradThor/status/764467736537862144
But Smith does think there’s a difference in this case:
Not equivalent, @jbarro. Neither Obama nor Romney were telling their voters that the election will be stolen and that they can help stop it.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) August 13, 2016
Whatever the candidate’s justification for calling for observers, other campaigns do it routinely:
I was a polling place observer for OFA in 2012 and got a mass email this week from Clinton asking me to do it again. Soo
— Ricky Billingsgate (@ambivalentricky) August 13, 2016