Trump’s call for stricter policing of polling stations has a historical precedent.
In 1981, the Republican National Committee lost a court battle when they tried to enlist a task force of “off-duty sheriffs and police officers” to monitor polling places.
The Democrats sued in 1982 and the court ruling said that the RNC was intending to use the task force “to intimidate voters by standing at polling places in minority precincts during voting” in New Jersey.
The Republicans and Democrats have since agreed to refrain from tactics deemed intimidating, although both parties are allowed—with strict rules—to send polling observers to encourage voters at polling stations.
