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A day after ‘No Kings,’ Alaska GOP leaders tell prospective poll watchers Democrats are trying to rig election
Sullivan delivers partisan attacks at online training seminar before RNC official provides neutral guidelines similar to advice given to rally participants a day earlier
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
The instructions were remarkably similar: We need to behave because we’re not the bad guys — the folks on the other side are.
Polite and legal behavior during the election process was emphasized during a poll observer training webinar by state Republican leaders Sunday, a day after similar advice was offered during "No Kings" rallies in Juneau and elsewhere on Saturday.
"Please don't interfere with the orderly conduct of the election," Evelyn Dutton, the Republican National Committee’s deputy state director for election integrity, said during a presentation of Alaska’s election rules. "I know that a lot of us tend to get passionate, right? But don't let that passion interfere with the election. That would be bad."
The webinar also sought to fire up supporters with heavily partisan attacks about the other side seeking to sabotage the election — particularly by U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, when he and Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, delivered opening remarks to attendees. Both are seeking reelection in the Nov. 3 midterms, with Sullivan in a tight race that could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate.
"Look, I'm not accusing anybody, but you know, at least in my race, the Democrats they've already recruited a fake candidate because they want power in the U.S. Senate," Sullivan said, a reference to retired Petersburg teacher Dan J. Sullivan that has not been legally substantiated. "So we got to keep a close eye on them."
"There's nobody in the Republican Party, I guarantee you, in Alaska that's thinking about how you can trick Alaskans, or make them throw away their vote, or all the other stuff that the Democrats are already doing. We're the fair party; they're the ones trying to rig it."
Republicans in Alaska, in turn, are facing a barrage of accusations, particularly against the state Division of Elections — led by a Republican director appointed by a Republican governor. Among the division’s actions are turning over confidential voter data to the Trump administration, removing thousands of people from voter rolls over citizenship questions that in many cases were invalid, and refusing to list Dan J. Sullivan’s Republican party registration on the ballot while giving Sen. Dan S. Sullivan an unprecedented "incumbent" label next to his name.
Begich, who polls show is likely to win a second term, was more neutral in his remarks.
"When it comes to poll watching I'll say this: nobody's going to pull any funny business when they're being watched, and this is why it's important for you to be there, to be well trained and understand what the rules are," he said.
The remainder of the 75-minute online session was mostly a detailed and neutral presentation of state election procedures and rules for poll observers, plus responses to a handful of questions from participants. The Alaska Democratic Party is hosting similar sessions, including an online seminar for poll watchers that took place Oct 13.
Dutton, before beginning her presentation, stated the "Public - Zoom Webinar" was closed to the news media — a restriction not disclosed during registration nor agreed to by the Juneau Independent. People registering for the webinar were also advised they can expect to receive fundraising requests and other messaging, and their personal information and likeness can be used by the RNC.
She noted RNC officials in Alaska are seeking to recruit about 500 volunteers and staff as part of a nationwide effort. The RNC, in an Oct. 6 press release, notes the organization "has election integrity directors deployed in 22 target states," plus "a record number of poll workers," and "we’ve positioned attorneys, election observers, and trained volunteers in competitive districts and states. And on Election Day, we’ll have a fully operational war room ready to respond in real time."
A question from a participant at the beginning of Dutton’s presentation was monitoring of mailed ballots received after Election Day, fueled by oft-stated suspicions about conservative candidates faring worse in those tallies than liberal and moderate ones.
"We've been recruiting special monitors and observers to be all over the place this election cycle," Dutton said. "So we're going to have coverage in Juneau, Wasilla, Anchorage and Nome, at as many tables as possible with eyes on the ball, on the boards that are processing these."
Sullivan, in a final departing comment, decried the failure of a Trump-backed bill that would have imposed tougher restrictions on voter registration and mail ballots. Dutton then acknowledged "we all have our suspicions that there's certain things that just don't add up or don't seem to sound right come post-Election Day."
"It's going to take an army of us all showing up, doing what we need to do to protect the vote," she said. "If we don't get in there and we don't see what's happening and we don't report in real time — that's the immediacy of reporting all the different issues that come up — we can't fix the system."
Dutton said RNC officials in Alaska are working to recruit election workers — although hiring decisions are made by the state — "because we need more parity on our election boards, from the state boards to the regional boards to our precinct boards." Beyond that organizers are seeking staff and volunteers to be poll watchers during voting and monitoring of the counting process afterward.
"We want everybody to be respectful and courteous, and know the process and what they're going to be observing, how to use the hotline, as well as knowing and respecting our voting rights and laws," she said. "We don't want anybody being disrespectful, demanding, or interfering or disrupting in the orderly conduct of our election whatsoever."
Among the instructions for poll watchers provided by Dutton were what election workers can and cannot say to voters, how ballots must be handled by voters and workers processing them, and electioneering activities that are banned within 200 feet of the entrance door of a polling place. She said watchers can be close enough to the check-in table to see and hear what’s occurring, but cannot do anything that interferes with legitimate activities.
"Poll watchers can ask questions, request corrections and report any issues," Dutton said. She noted observers cannot take photos or videos, and "you must remain a distance away from the voting machines and booths to ensure the privacy of the ballots."
Participants were also told to promptly report irregularities to the election board chair and an RNC hotline, including long lines developing at polls and if voting locations close even a minute before or after the 8 p.m. scheduled time unless legal authorization has been given.
In response to a question from a participant about whether concealed carry of weapons is allowed at polling locations, Amy Bethune, a regional elections director for the RNC participating in the webinar, said there is no blanket prohibition on weapons. However, restrictions for locations at polling places such as schools still apply.
Less detailed instructions, but with similar wording, were offered during Saturday’s "No Kings" rally on Egan Drive next to the Douglas Bridge, where organizers said their goals include encouraging early turnout and keeping an eye on the election process.
"We also have to prove that those results are real, and then we need to enforce the will of the voters and the results of the election," said Anjuli Grantham, an organizer with Juneau For Democracy, during remarks to attendees at the rally.
"If there is something that is fishy here in Juneau we will message everyone and tell you what the plan is. We're setting up a rapid response network in case something happens here, and also in response to national calls for solidarity to enforce the election."
Her husband and co-organizer, James Houck, said those concerned about the election outcome need to remain engaged well beyond Election Day.
"Remember, this process can take until January 3," he said. "Let's be patient and let the system work."
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
