Philadelphia on watch for voter intimidation as country sets its sights on crucial swing state of Pennsylvania

Donald Trump has urged his supporters to watch polling stations, which has raised fears of voter intimidation

It’s election day in Philadelphia and the streets outside the downtown Pennsylvania convention centre are quiet. That is good news for Jonathan Leibovic and Paula Meninato, two volunteers who are out watching for any signs of trouble.

“There have been many instances and threats of violence and intimidation at the polls, and we want to make sure everybody gets their chance to exercise their right to vote,” says Leibovic.

That the pair feel they are needed is an indication of the stakes here in Philadelphia. The state of Pennsylvania is the most likely tipping point in this year’s election, and its largest city will play a key role.

Donald Trump has made repeated, unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud in the city – which votes heavily Democratic – famously declaring during the presidential debates that “bad things happen in Philadelphia” and urging his supporters to “go into the polls and watch very carefully”.

Each campaign is allowed to send registered poll watchers to monitor the vote, but the Trump campaign has urged all of his supporters to go to polling stations to watch voting take place – a call that sparked fears of voter intimidation. 

Inside the convention centre, thousands of ballots are being counted, including mail-in ballots. There had been fears that some people might try to interfere with the process. 

“There have been a lot of threats and intimidation against my community specifically, as a Latina,” says Meninato, “and I think it’s important that people feel safe voting.”

Meninato is part of a non-partisan organisation called “Mamas con poder” or Mothers With Power. She and Leibovic are spending the day visiting polling stations around the city of Philadelphia to ensure people can cast their ballots in peace.

“We’re just going to different polling locations to see if there is anything shady going on, and making sure people are informed of their rights,” she adds.  

City officials have promised tough action against anyone who tries to interfere with the electoral process here. Mayor Jim Kenney set up an interagency taskforce to quickly respond to any election day complaints. And Mr Trump’s repeated unfounded accusations of voter fraud and veiled threats drew a sharp response from Philadelphia’s district attorney, Lawrence S Krasner.

“The Trump administration’s efforts to suppress votes amid a global pandemic fuelled by their disregard for human life will not be tolerated in the birthplace of American democracy,” Mr Krasner told The New York Times.

“Philadelphians from a diversity of political opinions believe strongly in the rule of law, in fair and free elections, and in a democratic system of government. We will not be cowed or ruled by a lawless, power-hungry despot. Some folks learned that the hard way in the 1700s.”

Kevin Feeley, a spokesperson for Philadelphia election official Lisa Deeley, said around midday that her office had “not heard a single report” of voter intimidation so far.

Meninato says that she had heard of at least one report of a Trump supporter pushing a poll worker after being told they couldn’t put up a sign at a polling station. There were a number of other small incidents reported across the city.

Nonetheless, Meninato says some of the damage was already done before election day.

“I’ve been looking at different online campaigns and online groups for Latinx voters, and we’ve been seeing people create posts to intentionally intimidate Latinx voters, or to use fear to sway people one way or another,” she says.

“We’ve also heard about some non-partisan [online] campaigns getting hacked and the hackers changing the name of the groups to partisan [slogans]. It’s all inappropriate and we just want to make sure people aren’t intimidated out of casting their ballots,” adds Meninato.

Last month The Independent interviewed a number of voters who were worried that the Trump administration’s attacks on the integrity of mail-in ballots – again, without evidence – had led them to worry whether they would be counted. Mr Trump has frequently raised the prospect of a court battle to do just that.  

But voters in Philadelphia on election day seemed more relaxed.

“This city is one of the best in the world. We’re the first in almost everything. I have total trust in our system and that every vote will be counted the way that it should be,” says Kristin Manges, a 32-year-old nurse who voted on Tuesday.

Alyson Kessler, who also cast her ballot in person, feels the same.

“I’m not worried at all. The votes are going to be counted and it’s gonna go through the right process. That doesn’t worry me even a little bit,” she says.

“I’m more worried about what Trump is gonna try to do with the Supreme Court in Florida and other states. I have a really good feeling about tonight.”