Civil rights advocates plan to send thousands of observers to midterm polling places
Community organizing groups are training volunteers to monitor polling places during the midterm elections to prevent voter intimidation. These groups are particularly concerned about the potential presence of immigration enforcement agents at voting sites.
Why it matters
The initiative highlights growing tensions and concerns regarding voter access and the potential for intimidation in a highly polarized political climate.
It was loteria night at the offices of Living United for Change in Arizona, or LUCHA, in Phoenix.
A small group of young people were playing this bingo-like card game in the hopes of taking home an array of prizes: a camping chair, reusable water bottles and coolers.
Conveniently, the prizes would be useful if you plan to camp out somewhere for a while. Which happens to be what these players were getting trained to do last week.
LUCHA, a left-of-center community organizing group, has been training volunteers to be what they call "constitutional observers" ahead of this year's midterms. This was the first of many in-person sessions the organization plans to hold as Election Day nears.
Elections Americans are confused and worried about elections. Will that impact turnout? Carime Rodriguez, who led the training, told volunteers that their main job will be to just observe.
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