Allegations of voter fraud are coming out of York County, Pennsylvania after a group calling itself an “election integrity committee” after its members reportedly knocked on doors asking residents how they voted and who they voted for, the York Dispatch [1] reports.
York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler says she’s received numerous calls about the individuals claiming to be members of the committee and made no bones about the situation: these individuals are not affiliated with the county government. The county has since referred the cases to the Southern York Regional Police Department said Wheeler, a Republican. She was elected to the commission in 2019.
“I received some emails from residents who live in the southern part of York County,” Wheeler told the Dispatch. “I’ve spoken with the individuals and we’ve turned the matter over to law enforcement.”
Other local officials say they have also received reports that the group is visiting homes and asking the homeowner how they voted and who they voted for. The questions come as county officials debate whether to comply with a “forensic audit” of the 2020 election. That effort has been spearheaded by Sen. Doug Mastriano, a Franklin County Republican.
“There is an intimidation factor, and that’s what their intent is,” said Chad Baker, Democratic Party chair in York County. “The timing of this doesn’t seem suspect given the recent request of the audit by Sen. Mastriano.”
Democrats seem to be the main target for the members of this committee which maintains it is seeking examples of voter fraud, a baseless claim that serves as a rallying cry for supporters of former President Donald Trump, Baker said.
Steve Snell, a Windsor Township Democrat, says he has witnessed the group in action.
On Saturday two women claiming to be members of the committee knocked on his door and asked to speak to his 89-year-old mother-in-law.
“They did not ask who she voted for,” said Snell, who ran unsuccessfully for the state’s 94th House District in 2018. “If they had, I would have thrown them out. I regret that I was not more persistent in asking about the ‘committee’ that they said they represented.”
Vice President Commissioner Doug Hoke and Commissioner Ron Smith say they’ve also been made aware of the committee’s voter outreach but didn’t provide any additional details.
The situation is unfolding just as the predominantly GOP-led is debating whether to cooperate with Mastriano’s request to audit the county’s election process. Mastriano is notorious for his support of Trump and infamous for denying the results of the 2020 election.
In total, three counties received the request, including Tioga County, which declined to cooperate and Philadelphia, which hasn’t responded as yet. The deadline is July 31.
York County officials have been questioning the legality of Mastriano’s demand and concerns have been raised about the expense to the county, especially as it appears the county is short-staffed.
The tactics being used by this so-called committee are almost indistinguishable from a forensic audit conducted by a company hired by Arizona Senate Republicans. The Dispatch notes that the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, in a letter on May 5 alleged the firm Cyber Ninjas committed voter intimidation because of its door-knocking practice.
“This description of the proposed work of the audit raises concerns regarding potential intimidation of voters,” the DOJ’s letter read. “The Department enforces a number of federal statutes that prohibit intimidation of persons for voting or attempting to vote.”
I’m willing to bet the members of these “committees” are Trump supporters. After all, their clueless leader threatened, cajoled, warned, and usurped anyone who didn’t kowtow to his demands as president. His supporters are simply echoing what they’ve learned.
Can you picture supporters of President Joe Biden doing this?