Are San Diego's Polling Places Safe?

A variety of political organizations say they'll have people monitoring polling places

Republican nominee Donald Trump's claim that the election will be rigged against him has raised concerns about voter intimidation and poll monitoring during the November 8 election.

A variety of political organizations say they'll have people monitoring polling places.

How could that affect polling places in San Diego?

"If certain campaigning is happening within 100 feet, then we are going to advise that individual, that is doing so, to get past that 100 foot mark," said Michael Vu, of the San Diego Registrar of Voters. 

It is illegal to campaign within 100 feet of a polling place. Outside of 100 feet, political signs, shirts, positive or negative words about candidates or issues is fair game.

According to the San Diego Registrar of Voters there will be hundreds of field support representatives circulating throughout the 1552 precincts in San Diego during the election. To help enforce the polling place rules those field representatives have some power behind them.

"If we have to get law enforcement involved we will," Vu said.

But what do voting rights activists think about the registrars ability to protect polling places?

"We think there's a good system to catch these sorts of things," said Christopher Wilson, Associate Director of Alliance San Diego.

Wilson believes that the system in place will not only prevent campaigning within 100 feet of polling places, but also protect voters from all sorts of things even voter harassment and intimidation.

"I'd tell people not to be worried, afraid,or intimidated. Go out there and make sure your vote is cast and if someone does try to intimidate you, then there are rules and laws to protect you," he said.

NBC 7 spoke to various San Diego voters--most felt the system would protect them. Voter David Burch said that if someone tried to interfere with him at a polling place, he'd tell that person to "get out of my way! It's a freedom of choice."

San Diego voting polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on November 8.

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