New York Fair Election Advocates Prepare To “Protect The Results”

From Public News Service:

Andrea Sears, Public News Service - NY

November 4 2020

NEW YORK -- Election-protection advocates around the country are planning rallies and protests if they see any attempt to interfere with a full count of ballots cast in the election.

They're calling it Protect the Results, a grassroots demand that the will of the voters - as reflected in the election outcome - be respected. Organizers say they're ready to hold nonviolent rallies and protests in more than 500 communities nationwide.

Justin Hendrix, an organizer in New York City, said the preparations are a response to President Donald Trump suggesting that he might not commit to a peaceful transfer of power if Joe Biden is the winner.

"We see direct action as a necessary tactic to be taken," Hendrix said, "if, in fact, the president chooses not to accept the results of the 2020 election."

Trump has claimed that mail-in ballots may be fraudulent and should not be counted past Election Day.

Information about these gatherings is online at protecttheresults.com.
. Hendrix noted that the goal is to be prepared to act in the event that the administration tries to undermine the election results.

"If Donald Trump takes actions to interfere in the vote count; if he declares an early victory and calls on Joe Biden to concede before the votes have all been taken into consideration; if he ultimately refuses to concede," Hendrix said, "all of these are the types of scenarios that we're planning for."

Before the election, Republicans filed lawsuits over ballot dropboxes, drive-through voting and extended time to count votes, and Trump has said more lawsuits will be filed.

The huge volume of mail-in ballots cast this year means that in some areas, including critical battleground states, counting those votes could take days and there will undoubtedly be court challenges. So, Hendrix said the preparations will remain in place well after Election Day.

"We're going to remain ready throughout the transition period," he said, "and if, in fact, a week or two weeks from now, Donald Trump or the Republican Party cross one of these lines, then we'll be ready."

Support for this reporting was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

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