HARRISBURG – On Nov. 3, voters across Pennsylvania will head to the polls for the midterm election. Every voter in every election is entitled to cast their ballot without intimidation, interference, or discrimination. Voter intimidation is illegal under federal and state law – and according to the Pennsylvania Department of State, it’s also rare. However, several incidents of suspected intimidation in recent years have brought more attention to the issue and prompted action by the state.
During the 2020 election, Pennsylvania officials repeatedly raised concerns that President Donald Trump’s campaign and its supporters might be intimidating voters. Since then, Pennsylvania has established a hotline to report cases of voter intimidation and other election-related crimes. It’s also created a task force that mitigates election threats and combats misinformation.
Concerns over intimidation have continued this election cycle as the Department of Justice prepares to dispatch 1,000 election monitors to polling places in all 50 states, its largest-ever effort. In Pennsylvania, monitors are expected in Allegheny, Lehigh, Luzerne, and Philadelphia Counties. Justice Department officials have said that monitors will “observe and report,” but voting rights groups, advocates, and state officials have expressed fear of potential interference and intimidation as Trump and his administration continue to question the security of elections.
A lawsuit was filed in mid-October to block the DOJ plans. Earlier this year, Trump said he had not ruled out sending the National Guard or ICE agents to polling places. However, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Spotlight PA and Votebeat in October that there were no plans for ICE operations there. Federal law prohibits federal troops, agents, or law enforcement, including ICE, from interfering with voting.
Here’s everything you need to know so that you can be prepared if you experience or witness voter intimidation: Jump to section What is voter intimidation? What does the law say? Where’s the line? Are guns allowed in polling places? Can I wear clothing in support of the candidate I’m voting for? Is law enforcement allowed in polling places? What should I do if I experience voter intimidation or witness it?
What is voter intimidation? Voter intimidation can take many forms. It includes but is not limited to explicit physical or verbal threats and interrogation, as well as tactics like photographing or recording voters. This applies inside and outside of a polling place, as well as in county election offices and at mail ballot drop boxes.
A more comprehensive list of intimidation tactics covered under the law is on the state’s website. In Pennsylvania, the law also specifies that it’s illegal to coerce someone to vote or to refrain from voting, to interfere with a person’s ability to vote, or to block the entrance or exit of any polling place. Election workers can also be subjected to intimidation.
In 2022, the FBI and Department of Justice identified Pennsylvania as one of the top states for threats to election workers, based on reports made to a special task force. However, intimidation and misconduct can be performed by anyone, including nonpartisan election workers and partisan poll watchers.
The Pennsylvania Department of State has rules on what poll watchers – who are picked by political parties and campaigns – can and cannot do, as well as guidance for poll workers, to ensure that no voter is inappropriately challenged as they cast their ballot or is subjected to any sort of discrimination, intimidation, or misconduct.
Voter intimidation doesn’t exclusively occur at polling places. It can also happen via door-to-door canvassing and include flyers or calls that intentionally disseminate incorrect or false election information, including details about voting time or place, to interfere with people being able to properly cast their ballot.
What does the law say? Federal and state prote
