Observers pose no election threat
BY World's Editorials Writers
Monday, November 05, 2012
11/05/12 at 2:48 AM
When you go to the polls Tuesday you can rest assured that no foreigners will be lurking around trying to sabotage the election or influence your vote. Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt will make sure of that.
Pruitt wrote the State Election Board that he will strictly enforce state law that keeps observers and pollsters from influencing votes during an election. He also said that he really didn't expect an international election observation group to be actually on site.
Pruitt stands shoulder-to-shoulder with state officials in Texas and Iowa who have threatened legal action, including arrest, for any election violations.
The imagined threat comes from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which is comprised of 56 countries, including the United States. The group has been observing U.S. elections since 2002.
A spokesman for the National Association of Secretaries of State said there are about 44 representatives in the U.S., by invitation, and they have been briefed on national and state election laws. Their purpose is limited to observation.
Spreading democracy around the world is a worthy goal. Allowing representatives of other countries to actually see how democracy works would be a great help.
So, you can feel safe when you vote Tuesday.
And Attorney General Pruitt, chill.
Original Print Headline: Chill
