Kansas GOP lawyers will watch election for ‘dubious actions’ by Democrats

TOPEKA – The Kansas Republican Party will have a network of GOP lawyers watching voting on Election Day and ready to intervene with legal action if the attorneys detect any impropriety, according to an email from the state party’s director.

The poll watching will be combined with an Election Day “war room” with lawyers on standby. Some polling locations will be watched throughout Election Day, and the party is urging candidates, county officers and precinct leaders to visit polling locations and be poll watchers, according to an email from state GOP party director Clayton Barker obtained by The Topeka Capital-Journal.

The email reminds party faithful that the Nov. 4 election could determine the balance of power in Congress.

“The Democrats have a well-earned reputation of using dubious tactics on election day to boost their vote results. We must be vigilant to detect any problematic conduct and report it immediately,” Barker’s email reads.

Poll watchers will be looking for such improper actions as poll workers not requiring a voter ID, allowing unqualified voters to vote, improper electioneering, and improper assistance to or intimidation of voters. About 30 lawyers have volunteered to be on standby that day.

Jason Perkey, director of the Kansas Democratic Party, said Democrats plan to defend everyone’s right to vote and criticized Barker’s suggestion that Democrats use “dubious tactics.”

“He should take a look in the mirror,” Perkey said.

Barker said in an interview with the Capital-Journal that he wasn’t referring to Kansas Democrats but to general concern about voter fraud and “sometimes you have to motivate people to help out.”

Perkey would not discuss Democrats’ plans for Election Day. But an email from the Douglas County Democratic Party Tuesday said Democrats are seeking poll watchers to track who has voted, as Republicans also plan to do.

This story was originally published October 29, 2014 at 8:50 AM with the headline "Kansas GOP lawyers will watch election for ‘dubious actions’ by Democrats."