De Blasio Launches Voter Protection Program Amid Election Fears

NEW YORK CITY — A new voter protection program launched by Mayor Bill de Blasio wades into a growing fray over the coming election.

De Blasio announced the “Election Observer Corps” on Friday and touted the volunteer group as a bulwark against voter intimidation efforts spurred by President Donald Trump.

“Some of his followers clearly have been practicing intimidation tactics around this country,” he said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “We cannot have this. So, for New York City — and I'd say this for every city and country, we have to have a voter protection program. On Election Day, we're going to have hundreds of lawyers, City officials, volunteers, all out there protecting the vote.”

Trump, when asked to condemn white supremacists during the first presidential debate, told the far-right Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.” The Proud Boys took the comment as an endorsement of their violent tactics, the New York Times reported.

The president also encouraged his supporters to “watch” polls, which stoked fears that militias and other far-right groups could intimidate voters.

But de Blasio quickly faced questions that his city-run poll watching program could stoke a backlash.

WNYC host Brian Lehrer pointed out other groups like Common Cause have long conducted poll watching, which is formal process with specific rules. There’s a concern that if a progressive Democrat like de Blasio starts such a program that Republicans and others will start their own efforts, he said.

Trump has made very clear he intends to disrupt the vote, de Blasio said.

“We have to react differently than business as usual,” he said.

Early voting begins Saturday in New York City.