A group identifying as “election integrity committee” is repeatedly knocking on doors and demanding that residents disclose how they voted.
(Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)It sounds like a terrible knock-knock joke, but for Pennsylvania’s York County, it’s no laughing matter: A group identifying as “election integrity committee” is unsettling the community, repeatedly knocking on doors and demanding that residents disclose how they voted in last year’s election.
York Dispatch first reported the strange string of door-to-door intimidation that appears to be targeting Democrats. According to the paper, numerous local officials have received reports regarding a “committee” banging on doors, asking how homeowners voted, and for whom. County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler, who has personally received several concerned calls and emails, reiterated that this “committee” has no actual affiliation with county government, and has since turned the matter over to law enforcement.
Chad Baker, chair of the Democratic Party of York County, told the Dispatch that “there is an intimidation matter, and that’s what their intent is,” adding that “the timing of this doesn’t seem suspect given the recent request of the audit by Sen. Mastriano.”
To many Pennsylvania voters believe that their vote did not count. I believe that by undertaking a forensic investigation of the 2020 and 2021 election results, faith in our election process can and will be restored. https://t.co/LUzCTzs8vS
— Senator Doug Mastriano (@SenMastriano) July 8, 2021
Indeed, Pennsylvania Senator Doug Mastriano is an ardent support of Former U.S President Donald Trump, having helped spread the twice-impeached politician’s false claims of voter fraud. And as of this month, the Senator went one step further: He’s demanding an Arizona-style audit of the 2020 election results.
In early July, Mastriano sent letters to three counties — including York — requesting “information and materials needed to conduct a forensic investigation of the 2020 General Election and the 2021 Primary.” Mastriano threatened the countries with subpoenas should they fail to comply by July 31. Thus, it’s unsurprising that the “committee” is mostly banging on the doors of Democrats.
Despite attempts of obstruction by the Wolf Administration and the Attorney General, the Intergovernmental Operations Committee will press forward in the pursuit of a forensic investigation: https://t.co/j5ykNkL6Zw pic.twitter.com/I6gtWcxQ3Q
— Senator Doug Mastriano (@SenMastriano) July 12, 2021
A slightly similar situation played out in Arizona earlier this year, and immediately recognised as voter intimidation. Cyber Ninjas, the private firm conducting Arizona’s audit, proposed the use of similar door-to-door tactics, which incited a cautionary letter from the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division: “This description of the proposed work of the audit raises concerns regarding potential intimidation of voters.”
Finally! DOJ has let the Arizona Senate and Cyber Ninjas know that their plan to canvass voters to ask them, after the fact, if they voted, how they voted, where, and when, will likely result in a violation of the Civil Rights Act. pic.twitter.com/EhRpXC43xM
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 28, 2021
We look forward to the DOJ’s thoughts regarding the “election integrity committee.”
