usatoday--2020-09-25--Not old enough to vote, but old enough to help: How teens are helping to avert an election crisis

WASHINGTON — Like thousands of other teenagers , Abhinand Keshamouni 's introduction to working the polls came from watching `` The Daily Show . ''
Host Trevor Noah ends each episode with a pitch for Power the Polls , a national recruitment network working to ensure there are enough poll workers on Election Day .
The message resonated with Keshamouni , a 17-year-old senior from Canton , Michigan , a suburb of Detroit .
He signed up first for the Michigan state primary in August .
And he will be back at a polling site Nov. 3 , when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high school that 's conducting classes online .
Keshamouni will be among more 1 million poll workers braving a pandemic to ensure people can vote – and he got four of his buddies to do the same .
`` I thought it was a really good way to help our democracy , especially because I ca n't vote right now , '' Keshamouni said , adding that he also got a little pressure from his parents , Indian immigrants who will be voting in their first presidential election .
`` My entire family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were like , 'Go work the polls ! '
`` Facing a drastic shortage of poll workers in November because of the coronavirus pandemic , an army of voting rights groups and other organizations this summer waged the most robust poll-worker recruitment campaign in modern election history .
It has included high-profile allies , from Noah to NBA star LeBron James , whose recently formed More Than a Vote organization has worked to increase poll workers in predominantly Black districts .
Companies like Old Navy , Warby Parker and Target are paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work the polls .
Are you registered to vote ?
: Check your status or register online now Senior citizens historically make up the bulk of the workforce at polling sites but hundreds opted out this year because they 're the most vulnerable to coronavirus .
For months , voting rights advocates feared cities might not have the manpower to keep all in-person polling sites open – particularly in battleground states like Pennsylvania , Wisconsin and Michigan that could decide the presidential election .
But now election officials in cities such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Houston are n't just confident they will be able to keep an expanded number of polling sites open .
Fueled in part by a willingness of people in their 20s and 30s to step up , some cities said they have thousands more applications than they need .
`` We have way more than we can even use right now , '' said Richard Barron , Fulton County director of registration and elections in Atlanta , which has added 91 new polling locations since the state 's June primary .
Fulton County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positions .
`` We 're in very good shape .
A lot of people saw what happened in June and they decided they needed to get involved . ''
Barron said that includes many poll workers in their late teens and early 20s , pointing to one early voting site during the state 's August 's primary runoff that was staffed by six people under 25 years old .
`` We 've never had that before , '' he said .
In some states , poll workers can be as young as 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young recruits return for future elections , making it their new civic tradition and creating a “ new generation of poll workers.
” Prompting much of the activism : the scenes of hours-long lines of voters during state primaries early on in the pandemic .
Among the longest lines were in Milwaukee , where only five of 180 polling locations opened for Wisconsin ’ s April primary , and Atlanta , where voters – some who did not receive absentee ballots in the mail – packed the limited number of polling sites open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were really the poster-child across the country for what it looks like not to have enough poll workers , '' said Claire Woodall-Vogg , executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission .
`` The only good thing to come out of that is that our voters really had a visual of what a poll-worker shortage looks like .
Ever since April 7 , we 've had hundreds and hundreds of people applying to be an election worker . ''
Although an unprecedented number of Americans are expected to vote by mail in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all in-person voting sites to remain open to avoid voter suppression , particularly in communities of color that are often the most likely to see polling locations closed and consolidated .
To recruit younger poll workers , Milwaukee partnered with the local Service Employees International Union , which represents restaurant workers and others in the service industry who tend to be young .
The Metro Atlanta Chamber launched an initiative to recruit `` young , tech-savvy Georgians '' in the region while the state of Georgia teamed with the ACLU .
Drawing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , home to the NBA 's Atlanta Hawks and the WNBA 's Atlanta Dream , is one of several arenas and NFL stadiums nationally that will be used as voting sites .
In Houston , the Harris County Clerk 's Office has a young clerks program in which more than 4,500 high school students in the Houston area will work polls in November .
Texas law allows two excused absences a year for election work .
The students are among the 25,000 poll-worker applications received this year in Houston – far more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positions .
The city anticipates having 808 voting sites this year , around 60 more than 2016 .
`` There 's still more work to do , but we are in really good shape , '' Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins said .
`` We 're going to have more election workers than ever before – as many as 11,000 – but so far there 's been an outpouring of enthusiasm of folks wanting to be election workers .
Certainly , there are many more young people and middle-aged folks who have applied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bump up pay during pandemic Hollins said fewer senior poll workers backed out in Houston than expected , which combined with the thousands of more applicants , led to the large surplus .
Election officials are optimistic in Detroit , where widespread problems from the state 's August primary led Michigan Secretary of State Joceyln Benson , a Democrat , to help oversee the November election .
Her office recruited 20,000 poll workers for the state , and with efforts ongoing , they believe there will be plenty to cover Detroit 's 6,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to count absentee ballots .
“ It ’ s looking very , very promising , '' Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey said .
In Philadelphia , another city that will closely watched in the race between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden , election officials said they 've filled 5,660 of the city 's 8,515 poll worker positions – far ahead of the typical pace after receiving `` thousands '' of applications .
The response has been so great they 've been unable to contact everyone who has inquired .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the millennials , trying to get them involved in the democratic process , '' said Nakea Hurdle , chief deputy for Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir , who is overseeing the recruitment efforts .
`` We 've seen an overwhelmingly large response . ''
Part of attracting more poll workers in some cities during a pandemic is increasing pay .
Houston is paying poll workers , including the 4,500 high school students , $ 17 an hour .
Milwaukee , thanks to a grant from the Center for Tech and Civic Life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stipend on top of its normal $ 130 daily pay .
Fulton County , Georgia has $ 150 in `` hazard pay '' on top of flat rates that range between $ 175 and $ 275 based on responsibilities .
Philadelphia pays at least $ 200 .
The Center for Tech and Civic Life received a $ 250 million donation from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg to provide grants to cities to support the staffing and training of poll workers .
The flood of applicants does n't mean the work is done – recruitment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – nor does it mean that Election Day will take place without problems , long lines or fewer in-person polling sites .
Some cities and states have already cut voting sites .
Maryland , for example , will have 80 % fewer polling locations in November , opting to instead adopt a limited number of `` voting centers , '' because of a sharp a decrease in people willing to be poll workers .
More : Maryland plans to open fewer polling places .
What does that mean for rural voters ?
Complicating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a higher-than-usual 20 % drop-off rate when it comes to showing up for work assignments because of the pandemic .
An analysis from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Democracy Works in August found more than 1.1 million poll workers are needed for the Nov. 3 election .
Typically , more than half are over the age of 60 years old .
Researchers projected a shortage of more than 465,000 poll workers .
Although that figure has been cut dramatically , a gap still remains .
Power the Polls , which formed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diverse poll workers , surpassed its goal of signing up 250,000 people and is now nearing 500,000 .
But not all applicants will find available positions , making it complicated to say how many poll workers are still needed nationally .
More than 100,000 people alone signed up during the first three days of September , coinciding with National Poll Worker Recruitment Day .
The nonprofit connects the applicants with local jurisdictions .
The goal is to create a `` bench ” of prospective poll workers who can fill in as needs arise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 're really trying to emphasize young folks as sort of the next generation of poll workers , '' said Scott Duncombe , co-director of Power the Polls .
`` Not only are they less at risk for the disease , they 're a little more tech-savvy .
A lot of times , we 've seen election technology causing lines and issues .
Additionally , young folks tend to be a little more representative . ''
He called the threat of a shortage a real `` crisis '' – but “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solve together.
” Power the Poll ’ s partners include Alpha Phi Alpha , the country 's oldest historically African American fraternity that has recruited members to work polls .
The group has also tapped into the Million Mask Challenge to help provide protective equipment at polling sites .
`` It 's certainly been a huge challenge .
We 've never had to vote in a pandemic , ” Duncombe said .
“ What really makes me hopeful is that it seems that a lot of folks really are stepping up .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways the need to serve .
Young folks in particularly are stepping up and recognizing that you got ta do something . ''
A push for more data from states Nathaniel Persily , a law professor from Stanford University , helped launch the Healthy Elections Project with MIT in April to help local election officials ensure a smooth election during the pandemic .
The project is working with two groups , Campus Compact and the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition , to recruit college undergraduate and graduate students to work polls .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I was concerned about their ability to recruit poll workers , I think they ’ re in much better position now than they were then , ” he said , referring to cities like Philadelphia , Milwaukee and Detroit .
He said the “ baptism by fire ” from the primary elections sounded the alarm early enough .
But before the election , the Healthy Elections Project is urging states to adopt an online poll-worker dashboard like Ohio has that shows needs on a county-by-county basis .
Persily said one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers is not knowing where exactly help is needed .
“ Naturally the poll-worker recruitment efforts are focusing on the battleground states and the biggest cities within them , but we don ’ t really know who ’ s doing well and who ’ s not . ''
Despite the strong recruitment , voting-rights advocates said they are continuing to monitor communities with large Black and Latino populations , which have historically experienced a disproportionate share of poll closures .
A 2019 report from the Leadership Conference Education Fund found 868 polling place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously identified as Section 5 jurisdictions under the Voting Rights Act .
Dig deeper on race and identity : Subscribe to This Is America , USA TODAY 's newsletter “ The closing of polling places has been a problem long before COVID , ” said Vanita Gupta , president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights , “ and now COVID and the impact on poll workers have made that an even dire situation .
`` What 's interesting right now is that there 's so much energy right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our democracy at a time when it is getting battered by the president and the administration , ” she said .
“ I think there are a lot of folks who want to be ‘ democracy workers.
’ ” Megan Lewis , co-founder and executive director of the Voting Rights Lab , which is working to ensure voter accessibility , noted that African Americans vote by mail at lower rates than other voters .
She said that makes it more important to ensure in-person polling sites remain open in neighborhoods with large Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study after study , even in prior elections , that if you close polling places you will have a disproportionate impact on voters of color , ” Lewis said .
`` Vigilance is key , ” she said , but added she ’ s optimistic “ the combination of efforts ” will allow the November election to run smoother than the primaries .
That optimism is thanks to people like Valerie Ogamba , a 31-year-old sales worker , avid volunteer and budding law school student from Dublin , California , in the Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the status of mail-voting for herself , she saw an online link to volunteer as a poll worker .
She signed up to work four days of early voting in Alameda County .
It will be the first time she ’ s worked as a poll worker .
“ As an African American woman , I just really wanted to put an emphasis on my volunteering and making sure I was all hands-on deck , ” Ogamba said .
“ I ’ m really thrilled .
With how important this election , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the voting polls.
” Detroit Free Press staff writer Dave Boucher contributed to this report .
Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @ joeygarrison .

Not old enough to vote, but old enough to help: How teens are helping to avert an election crisis
Show Caption Hide Caption Why voter suppression in the US has increased since 2013 Civil rights experts point to long wait times to vote as a sign of growing voter suppression in the U.S. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Like thousands of other teenagers, Abhinand Keshamouni's introduction to working the polls came from watching "The Daily Show."
Host Trevor Noah ends each episode with a pitch for Power the Polls, a national recruitment network working to ensure there are enough poll workers on Election Day. The message resonated with Keshamouni, a 17-year-old senior from Canton, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.
He signed up first for the Michigan state primary in August. And he will be back at a polling site Nov. 3, when he will take off a day from his high school that's conducting classes online. Keshamouni will be among more 1 million poll workers braving a pandemic to ensure people can vote – and he got four of his buddies to do the same.
"I thought it was a really good way to help our democracy, especially because I can't vote right now," Keshamouni said, adding that he also got a little pressure from his parents, Indian immigrants who will be voting in their first presidential election. "My entire family can vote except for me, so they were like, 'Go work the polls!' "
Facing a drastic shortage of poll workers in November because of the coronavirus pandemic, an army of voting rights groups and other organizations this summer waged the most robust poll-worker recruitment campaign in modern election history. It has included high-profile allies, from Noah to NBA star LeBron James, whose recently formed More Than a Vote organization has worked to increase poll workers in predominantly Black districts. Companies like Old Navy, Warby Parker and Target are paying their employees who take a day off to work the polls.
Are you registered to vote?: Check your status or register online now
Senior citizens historically make up the bulk of the workforce at polling sites but thousands opted out this year because they're the most vulnerable to coronavirus. For months, voting rights advocates feared cities might not have the manpower to keep all in-person polling sites open – particularly in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan that could decide the presidential election.
But now election officials in cities such as Milwaukee, Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Houston aren't just confident they will be able to keep an expanded number of polling sites open. Fueled in part by a willingness of people in their 20s and 30s to step up, some cities said they have thousands more applications than they need.
"We have way more than we can even use right now," said Richard Barron, Fulton County director of registration and elections in Atlanta, which has added 91 new polling locations since the state's June primary. Fulton County has nearly 7,000 applications for 2,900 poll-worker positions. "We're in very good shape. A lot of people saw what happened in June and they decided they needed to get involved."
Long lines snarl voting in Georgia amid pandemic Voters face long lines and waits at polling places in Georgia as the state holds its delayed primary election amid a shortage of poll workers and social-distancing precautions. (June 9) AP
Barron said that includes many poll workers in their late teens and early 20s, pointing to one early voting site during the state's August's primary runoff that was staffed by six people under 25 years old.
"We've never had that before," he said.
Lessons from recent state primaries
In some states, poll workers can be as young as 16 years old. Election officials hope the young recruits return for future elections, making it their new civic tradition and creating a “new generation of poll workers.”
Prompting much of the activism: the scenes of hours-long lines of voters during state primaries early on in the pandemic. Among the longest lines were in Milwaukee, where only five of 180 polling locations opened for Wisconsin’s April primary, and Atlanta, where voters – some who did not receive absentee ballots in the mail – packed the limited number of polling sites open during its June primary.
"We were really the poster-child across the country for what it looks like not to have enough poll workers," said Claire Woodall-Vogg, executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission. "The only good thing to come out of that is that our voters really had a visual of what a poll-worker shortage looks like. Ever since April 7, we've had hundreds and hundreds of people applying to be an election worker."
Although an unprecedented number of Americans are expected to vote by mail in November, voting rights advocates have pushed for all in-person voting sites to remain open to avoid voter suppression, particularly in communities of color that are often the most likely to see polling locations closed and consolidated.
To recruit younger poll workers, Milwaukee partnered with the local Service Employees International Union, which represents restaurant workers and others in the service industry who tend to be young.
The Metro Atlanta Chamber launched an initiative to recruit "young, tech-savvy Georgians" in the region while the state of Georgia teamed with the ACLU. Drawing more attention, Atlanta's State Farm Arena, home to the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and the WNBA's Atlanta Dream, is one of several arenas and NFL stadiums nationally that will be used as voting sites.
In Houston, the Harris County Clerk's Office has a young clerks program in which more than 4,500 high school students in the Houston area will work polls in November. Texas law allows two excused absences a year for election work. The students are among the 25,000 poll-worker applications received this year in Houston – far more than is needed to fill a record 11,000 positions. The city anticipates having 808 voting sites this year, around 60 more than 2016.
"There's still more work to do, but we are in really good shape," Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins said. "We're going to have more election workers than ever before – as many as 11,000 – but so far there's been an outpouring of enthusiasm of folks wanting to be election workers. Certainly, there are many more young people and middle-aged folks who have applied than ever before."
Some cities bump up pay during pandemic
Hollins said fewer senior poll workers backed out in Houston than expected, which combined with the thousands of more applicants, led to the large surplus.
Election officials are optimistic in Detroit, where widespread problems from the state's August primary led Michigan Secretary of State Joceyln Benson, a Democrat, to help oversee the November election. Her office recruited 20,000 poll workers for the state, and with efforts ongoing, they believe there will be plenty to cover Detroit's 6,000 election workers – one-third of whom are needed to count absentee ballots.
Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
“It’s looking very, very promising," Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey said.
In Philadelphia, another city that will closely watched in the race between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, election officials said they've filled 5,660 of the city's 8,515 poll worker positions – far ahead of the typical pace after receiving "thousands" of applications. The response has been so great they've been unable to contact everyone who has inquired.
"Our poll-working endeavors have been largely focused on the millennials, trying to get them involved in the democratic process," said Nakea Hurdle, chief deputy for Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir, who is overseeing the recruitment efforts. "We've seen an overwhelmingly large response."
Part of attracting more poll workers in some cities during a pandemic is increasing pay. Houston is paying poll workers, including the 4,500 high school students, $17 an hour. Milwaukee, thanks to a grant from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, added an additional $100 daily stipend on top of its normal $130 daily pay. Fulton County, Georgia has $150 in "hazard pay" on top of flat rates that range between $175 and $275 based on responsibilities. Philadelphia pays at least $200.
The Center for Tech and Civic Life received a $250 million donation from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg to provide grants to cities to support the staffing and training of poll workers.
The flood of applicants doesn't mean the work is done – recruitment efforts will continue up to the election – nor does it mean that Election Day will take place without problems, long lines or fewer in-person polling sites.
Some cities and states have already cut voting sites. Maryland, for example, will have 80% fewer polling locations in November, opting to instead adopt a limited number of "voting centers," because of a sharp a decrease in people willing to be poll workers.
More: Maryland plans to open fewer polling places. What does that mean for rural voters?
Complicating the outlook, some cities have prepared for a higher-than-usual 20% drop-off rate when it comes to showing up for work assignments because of the pandemic.
An analysis from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Democracy Works in August found more than 1.1 million poll workers are needed for the Nov. 3 election. Typically, more than half are over the age of 60 years old. Researchers projected a shortage of more than 465,000 poll workers. Although that figure has been cut dramatically, a gap still remains.
A 'bench' of poll workers
Power the Polls, which formed in June to help recruit low-risk and diverse poll workers, surpassed its goal of signing up 250,000 people and is now nearing 500,000. But not all applicants will find available positions, making it complicated to say how many poll workers are still needed nationally.
More than 100,000 people alone signed up during the first three days of September, coinciding with National Poll Worker Recruitment Day. The nonprofit connects the applicants with local jurisdictions. The goal is to create a "bench” of prospective poll workers who can fill in as needs arise and avoid any voting sites shutting down.
"We're really trying to emphasize young folks as sort of the next generation of poll workers," said Scott Duncombe, co-director of Power the Polls. "Not only are they less at risk for the disease, they're a little more tech-savvy. A lot of times, we've seen election technology causing lines and issues. Additionally, young folks tend to be a little more representative."
He called the threat of a shortage a real "crisis" – but “not one that we can’t solve together.”
Power the Poll’s partners include Alpha Phi Alpha, the country's oldest historically African American fraternity that has recruited members to work polls. The group has also tapped into the Million Mask Challenge to help provide protective equipment at polling sites.
"It's certainly been a huge challenge. We've never had to vote in a pandemic,” Duncombe said. “What really makes me hopeful is that it seems that a lot of folks really are stepping up. It seems like people are recognizing in many ways the need to serve. Young folks in particularly are stepping up and recognizing that you gotta do something."
A push for more data from states
Nathaniel Persily, a law professor from Stanford University, helped launch the Healthy Elections Project with MIT in April to help local election officials ensure a smooth election during the pandemic. The project is working with two groups, Campus Compact and the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, to recruit college undergraduate and graduate students to work polls.
“While at the beginning of the summer, I was concerned about their ability to recruit poll workers, I think they’re in much better position now than they were then,” he said, referring to cities like Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Detroit. He said the “baptism by fire” from the primary elections sounded the alarm early enough.
But before the election, the Healthy Elections Project is urging states to adopt an online poll-worker dashboard like Ohio has that shows needs on a county-by-county basis. Persily said one of the problems with national efforts to recruit poll workers is not knowing where exactly help is needed.
“Naturally the poll-worker recruitment efforts are focusing on the battleground states and the biggest cities within them, but we don’t really know who’s doing well and who’s not."
Despite the strong recruitment, voting-rights advocates said they are continuing to monitor communities with large Black and Latino populations, which have historically experienced a disproportionate share of poll closures. A 2019 report from the Leadership Conference Education Fund found 868 polling place closures from 2012 and 2018 in areas previously identified as Section 5 jurisdictions under the Voting Rights Act.
Dig deeper on race and identity: Subscribe to This Is America, USA TODAY's newsletter
“The closing of polling places has been a problem long before COVID,” said Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, “and now COVID and the impact on poll workers have made that an even dire situation.
"What's interesting right now is that there's so much energy right now to engage and show up for our democracy at a time when it is getting battered by the president and the administration,” she said. “I think there are a lot of folks who want to be ‘democracy workers.’”
'Vigilance is key'
Megan Lewis, co-founder and executive director of the Voting Rights Lab, which is working to ensure voter accessibility, noted that African Americans vote by mail at lower rates than other voters. She said that makes it more important to ensure in-person polling sites remain open in neighborhoods with large Black populations.
“We've seen in study after study, even in prior elections, that if you close polling places you will have a disproportionate impact on voters of color,” Lewis said.
"Vigilance is key,” she said, but added she’s optimistic “the combination of efforts” will allow the November election to run smoother than the primaries.
That optimism is thanks to people like Valerie Ogamba, a 31-year-old sales worker, avid volunteer and budding law school student from Dublin, California, in the Bay Area.
As Ogamba was checking on the status of mail-voting for herself, she saw an online link to volunteer as a poll worker. She signed up to work four days of early voting in Alameda County. It will be the first time she’s worked as a poll worker.
“As an African American woman, I just really wanted to put an emphasis on my volunteering and making sure I was all hands-on deck,” Ogamba said. “I’m really thrilled. With how important this election, I just can’t wait to be at the voting polls.”
Detroit Free Press staff writer Dave Boucher contributed to this report. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.


usatoday--2020-09-25--How the US votes and why advocates say the system needs to change

How the US votes and why advocates say the system needs to change US elections are mainly conducted by 'First @ @ @ @ @ .
Here 's why some say this system needs an overhaul .

How the US votes and why advocates say it needs to change
US elections are mainly conducted by 'First Past the Post' voting. Here's why some say this system needs an overhaul.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-09-25--Pentagon unlikely to swoop in if Biden wins and President Trump disputes election result

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump ca n't expect military aid from the Pentagon if he disputes the election results , according to the military 's top officer and the leading Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee .
Trump has twice in recent days declined to promise a peaceful transition if he loses the Nov. 3 election .
Democrats blasted him for the comments , and some Republican leaders , including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , have promised an `` orderly '' handover of power should former Vice President Joe Biden , the Democratic nominee , win the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , stated in an Aug. 28 letter in response to questions from members of Congress that he views no role for the military in the election .
“ The Constitution and laws of the U.S. and the states establish procedures for carrying out elections , and for resolving disputes over the outcome of elections , ” Milley wrote .
“ State and Federal governments have qualified officials who oversee these processes according to those laws .
We are a nation of laws .
We follow the rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regard to past elections , and will continue to do so in the future .
I do not see the U.S. Military as part of this process ; this is the responsibility of Congress , the Supreme Court , and components of the Executive Branch.
” On Thursday , Rep. Adam Smith , D-Wash. , the chairman of the Armed Services Committee , told CNN that he had been assured by military leaders that they would disregard illegal orders to interfere in the election .
`` The military has made clear to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , period , '' Smith said .
Smith added that military leaders , earlier this summer , resisted Trump 's call for federal troops to deal with unrest following the killing of George Floyd , a Black man , by police in Minneapolis .
But Defense Secretary Mark Esper pushed back against invoking the Insurrection Act that would have allowed active-duty troops , some poised in June on the outskirts of Washington , to quell disturbances .
Military officials were prepared to defy what was considered an unlawful order to confront protesters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Constitution , much to Donald Trump 's chagrin , '' Smith said .
Sen. Jack Reed , D-R.I. , and the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee , in a statement Friday challenged his Republican colleagues to rebuke Trump more forcefully .
He singled out Trump 's disparagement of mail-in ballots .
“ President Trump is wrong and Republicans need to do more than just say they support a peaceful transition of power , '' Reed said .
`` They need to reject Trump ’ s sabotage of the U.S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free and fair elections .
President Trump ’ s game is to cast doubt on the process and therefore the results .
It ’ s a cynical move that hurts the country and does serious , long-term damage to our democracy.
” BERNIE SANDERS : It 's 'an election between Donald Trump and democracy ' itself There was no comment from the Pentagon on Trump 's remarks .

Pentagon unlikely to swoop in if Biden wins and President Trump disputes election result
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump says he's not sure election can be 'honest' President Donald Trump continued to cast doubt on whether or not November's election could be "honest," again questioning the legitimacy of mail-in ballots. The remarks come a day after he refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. (Sept. 24) AP
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump can't expect military aid from the Pentagon if he disputes the election results, according to the military's top officer and the leading Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.
Trump has twice in recent days declined to promise a peaceful transition if he loses the Nov. 3 election. Democrats blasted him for the comments, and some Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have promised an "orderly" handover of power should former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee, win the election.
Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated in an Aug. 28 letter in response to questions from members of Congress that he views no role for the military in the election.
“The Constitution and laws of the U.S. and the states establish procedures for carrying out elections, and for resolving disputes over the outcome of elections,” Milley wrote. “State and Federal governments have qualified officials who oversee these processes according to those laws. We are a nation of laws. We follow the rule of law and have done so with regard to past elections, and will continue to do so in the future. I do not see the U.S. Military as part of this process; this is the responsibility of Congress, the Supreme Court, and components of the Executive Branch.”
On Thursday, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, told CNN that he had been assured by military leaders that they would disregard illegal orders to interfere in the election.
"The military has made clear to me they will not follow an unlawful order, period," Smith said.
Smith added that military leaders, this summer, resisted Trump's call for federal troops to deal with unrest following the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by police in Minneapolis. But Defense Secretary Mark Esper pushed back against invoking the Insurrection Act that would have allowed active-duty troops, some poised in June on the outskirts of Washington, to quell disturbances.
Military officials were prepared to defy what was considered an unlawful order to confront protesters, Smith said.
"Their oath is to the Constitution, much to Donald Trump's chagrin," Smith said.
Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, in a statement Friday challenged his Republican colleagues to rebuke Trump more forcefully. He singled out Trump's disparagement of mail-in ballots.
“President Trump is wrong and Republicans need to do more than just say they support a peaceful transition of power," Reed said. "They need to reject Trump’s sabotage of the U.S. Postal Service and repeated attacks on free and fair elections. President Trump’s game is to cast doubt on the process and therefore the results. It’s a cynical move that hurts the country and does serious, long-term damage to our democracy.”
BERNIE SANDERS: It's 'an election between Donald Trump and democracy' itself
OPINION: Ignore Trump's strongman fantasies
DEBATE: Counting mail-in ballots shouldn't wait for Election Day


usatoday--2020-09-25--Florida sends thousands of voter registration invites – to already registered voters

Voters who claim a special public records exemption because of the sensitive , confidential or dangerous nature of their job are getting postcards from the Department of State 's Division of Elections wrongly telling them they may not be registered .
The multi-state Electronic Registration Information Center ( ERIC ) that the state Division of Elections used to identify over 2 million potentially eligible but unregistered ( EBU ) voters didn ’ t filter out the untold thousands of voters whose personal information is protected .
“ My whole family got one , ” said Leon County Supervisor of Elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself , his wife and son .
Less than three weeks before the Oct. 5 registration deadline for the November general election , the state sent out the card as part of a requirement to join the ERIC consortium of 30 states and the District of Columbia .
The consortium allows states to exchange voter registration information to cross-check voter registration data to weed out dead and duplicate voters , among other things .
• Florida 's direct mail voter outreach is too little , too late , critics say • After Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got millions for election security .
Here 's how it was spent The postcard states , in English and Spanish , that records show recipients are eligible but not registered to vote .
They are instructed to go online to RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov , check their registration status and then register if they are not already .
It also tells them they can vote by mail , at any early voting site , or at the polls on Election Day .
Eligible voters are those who are at least 18 , Florida residents and U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to all eligibility requirements .
Using ERIC data and information from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles , Division of Elections Director Maria Matthews had said the state identified reliable addresses for nearly 2.24 million eligible but unregistered ( EBU ) voters .
The mail-out cost around $ 600,000 .
`` Addresses associated with an EBU were removed if the person was identified as deceased , if it was an out-of-state address , and if it was an address for a Department of Corrections facility or a federal prison in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email to county elections supervisors .
Florida law allows people who work in certain government jobs categorized as `` high-risk professional class '' and their spouses and family members to request an agency to shield their personal voter registration information from public records review .
• Members of the U.S. military .
It also includes code enforcement officers , county tax collectors , any local agency head who has hiring and firing duties , investigators for the departments of Children and Family Services , Health , Financial Services , Revenue , inspectors with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , inspector general or audit department personnel whose job is to investigate waste , fraud and abuse , victims of sexual battery and domestic violence , and human relations or labor relations board members .
Some 22,000 registration postcards were sent to Leon County , where many of those exempt judicial and government personnel reside , Earley said .
“ It may be difficult to put out a filter on exempted people , ” he added .
“ I think they probably should have filtered that better.
” The Department of State 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address from disclosure by that department , and does n't extend to another agency , explained Mark Ard , spokesman for the Department of State .
The department does n't keep track of the number of exemptions , he said .
“ If the Florida resident did not choose to protect their address with HSMV , but has requested an address protection with the Department of State , then those residents will receive an ERIC card , ” Ard said .
“ This is indicative that the exemption process with the Florida Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address would not have appeared in the DOS database during the crosscheck with HSMV . ''
Contact Jeff Schweers at jschweers @ gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ jeffschweers .

Jeffrey Schweers, USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau

Florida sends thousands of voter registration invites – to already registered voters
Show Caption Hide Caption Elections 2020: Mail-in voting could decide next president Many states are planning on drastically different elections this year and mail-in ballots could be a big game changer. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Voters who claim a special public records exemption because of the sensitive, confidential or dangerous nature of their job are getting postcards from the Department of State's Division of Elections wrongly telling them they may not be registered.
The multi-state Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) that the state Division of Elections used to identify over 2 million potentially eligible but unregistered (EBU) voters didn’t filter out the untold thousands of voters whose personal information is protected.
“My whole family got one,” said Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley on Monday. That includes himself, his wife and son.
Less than three weeks before the Oct. 5 registration deadline for the November general election, the state sent out the card as part of a requirement to join the ERIC consortium of 30 states and the District of Columbia. The consortium allows states to exchange voter registration information to cross-check voter registration data to weed out dead and duplicate voters, among other things.
Election security in the spotlight:
The postcard states, in English and Spanish, that records show recipients are eligible but not registered to vote. They are instructed to go online to RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov, check their registration status and then register if they are not already.
It also tells them they can vote by mail, at any early voting site, or at the polls on Election Day. Eligible voters are those who are at least 18, Florida residents and U.S. citizens. They must swear or affirm to all eligibility requirements.
Using ERIC data and information from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Division of Elections Director Maria Matthews had said the state identified reliable addresses for nearly 2.24 million eligible but unregistered (EBU) voters. The mail-out cost around $600,000.
"Addresses associated with an EBU were removed if the person was identified as deceased, if it was an out-of-state address, and if it was an address for a Department of Corrections facility or a federal prison in Florida," Matthews said in an email to county elections supervisors.
Florida law allows people who work in certain government jobs categorized as "high-risk professional class" and their spouses and family members to request an agency to shield their personal voter registration information from public records review.
This list includes:
Police and civilian law enforcement personnel.
Federal, state and county judges.
Administrative hearing officers.
Magistrates and other quasi-judicial officers.
Juvenile probation officers.
Guardians ad litem.
Child support enforcement officers.
Correctional officers.
Firefighters and paramedics.
Members of the U.S. military.
It also includes code enforcement officers, county tax collectors, any local agency head who has hiring and firing duties, investigators for the departments of Children and Family Services, Health, Financial Services, Revenue, inspectors with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, inspector general or audit department personnel whose job is to investigate waste, fraud and abuse, victims of sexual battery and domestic violence, and human relations or labor relations board members.
Some 22,000 registration postcards were sent to Leon County, where many of those exempt judicial and government personnel reside, Earley said.
“It may be difficult to put out a filter on exempted people,” he added. “I think they probably should have filtered that better.”
The Department of State's public records exemption form only protects an address from disclosure by that department, and doesn't extend to another agency, explained Mark Ard, spokesman for the Department of State.
The department doesn't keep track of the number of exemptions, he said.
“If the Florida resident did not choose to protect their address with HSMV, but has requested an address protection with the Department of State, then those residents will receive an ERIC card,” Ard said. “This is indicative that the exemption process with the Florida Department of State is working well. Those address would not have appeared in the DOS database during the crosscheck with HSMV."
Contact Jeff Schweers at jschweers@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @jeffschweers.
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usatoday--2020-09-25--Biden said he will win Scranton. Trump said he will only lose if it's rigged. Who's right?

YORK , Pa. – Pennsylvania has a long history of voting Democrat for president .
In every presidential election since 1988 , Pennsylvania has given its electoral votes , which have ranged from 23 to 20 in the last 30 years , to the Democratic nominee .
That pattern changed in 2016 , when then-Republican nominee Donald J. Trump won the state narrowly by 44,000 votes , or less than 1 percent .
Those 44,000 voters would n't fill half of the capacity at Penn State 's Beaver Stadium .
But they were enough to decide the razor-thin 2016 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million people voted .
Analysts have been predicting another close race in battleground Pennsylvania .
But if the results are n't in Trump 's favor , it 's because the election was rigged , the president has said .
Then a candidate , Trump in 2016 was down in the polls and said the election was rigged .
He won .
Trump is down in the polls again and saying that mail-in balloting will allow widespread voting fraud , rigging the election .
His campaign 's lawsuit against mail-in balloting in Pennsylvania produced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's primary .
But there are foreign influences working to undermine the U.S. presidential election , according to the FBI .
U.S. intelligence officials have said Russian operatives worked to interfere with the 2016 election and are doing it again , spreading false information through social media .
Four years ago , Russian meddlers were trying to make Democrat Hillary Clinton lose and help Trump win , according to the FBI .
This year , Russian operatives are working to help Trump win , while China and Iran want a Joe Biden victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI warns delayed election results could be exploited by foreign actors spreading disinformation US intel : Russia working to defeat Biden ; China and Iran prefer Trump defeat Pennsylvania 's Republican majority Legislature passed a voting reform package in 2019 , months before the coronavirus was detected in China and nearly half a year before it was detected in Pennsylvania .
The legislation enabled mail-in voting , which Gov .
Tom Wolf says will help protect vulnerable Pennsylvanians who may be susceptible to COVID-19 .
For example , the virus has been most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounting for about 70 percent of all the covid-related deaths in Pennsylvania .
But mail-in voting is coming under scrutiny in a contentious presidential election year , and a new federal investigation in Luzerne County , a swing county in blue-collar northeastern Pennsylvania flipped by Trump in 2016 , is adding fuel to the president 's claims against election integrity .
The Justice Department on Thursday said it is investigating potential issues with nine military mail-in ballots .
Of the nine ballots involved in the inquiry , seven ballots were marked for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a letter from U.S. Attorney David Freed to the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections .
Military ballots are supposed to be stored and unopened until no earlier than 7 a.m. on Election Day , according to state law .
It was explained to investigators the envelopes used for official overseas , military , absentee and mail-in ballot requests are so similar that the staff believed they were receiving ballot requests and did n't want to miss them , Freed said in the letter .
`` Our interviews further revealed that this issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — therefore a known issue — and that the problem has not been corrected , '' Freed said .
The Justice Department is working to make sure every vote is counted by Election Day .
Two counties in northeastern Pennsylvania — Luzerne and Lackawanna — make up one of the most important areas in the 2020 election , especially for Trump .
He was propelled to the White House on the backs of blue-collar workers in the northeast and southeast corners of Pennsylvania who had previously voted for Democrats .
Recent polling shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and going home to their party , and the president is also losing ground with older workers .
`` President Trump needs working-class voters in the northeast and southwest if he 's going to win Pennsylvania again , '' said Terry Madonna , a pollster and political analyst at Franklin & Marshall College .
`` It 's different for Joe Biden , '' said Jesse White , a political strategist at Perpetual Fortitude , a Democratic consulting and digital management firm .
`` If Biden wins , it will be on the backs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' More : Ginsburg 's death is raising the stakes in the Pa. presidential election : 'It 's enormous' More : Why Biden and Trump are both afraid of Pennsylvania : Ballot 'chaos ' and voting 'sabotage' Both Biden and Trump like their chances in the northeast , especially in Biden 's hometown of Scranton .
And in a tight race in Pennsylvania , where Biden 's lead is within the margin of error , that area could be a difference-maker .
After a CNN town hall in Scranton last Thursday , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win his hometown .
Former President Barack Obama , with Biden as his running mate , won Scranton by double digits in 2008 and 2012 .
Four years ago , Trump almost won Lackawanna County , where Scranton is , and he did flip neighboring Luzerne County .
“ I will win Scranton , '' Biden said .
`` Listen to me .
I will win Scranton .
And we were losing Scranton and Lackawanna County til I got put on the ticket .
This is home .
I know these people.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is why Obama won Scranton .
“ I know I helped in this county , '' Biden said .
`` I helped in this state .
We were losing by seven points in Pennsylvania .
I get announced as the candidate .
Five days later , we were up by 6.
” Biden is up by 6 points again in the latest Franklin & Marshall poll , but Trump said he will win Scranton and Pennsylvania .
During a campaign stop last month in Old Forge , just 10 minutes south of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only way he will lose is if the election is rigged and again raised concerns about mail-in voting .
`` So this is just a way they ’ re trying to steal the election , and everybody knows that , '' Trump said .
`` Because the only way they ’ re going to win is by a rigged election .
I really believe that . ''
More : Trump in Pa. : What we know about tickets and how to watch his stop near Harrisburg More : VP Pence to host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Biden face off for the first time He leaves no room for the idea that , if Biden wins this year , the state is returning to a decades-long pattern of electing a Democrat for president .
Trump has , during multiple campaign stops in Pennsylvania , said he would win Pennsylvania `` bigger '' this year than he did four years ago .
And this week , the president would n't commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the Nov. 3 presidential election .
“ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Trump said at a news conference .
“ You know that I ’ ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots , and the ballots are a disaster.
” In 2016 , Trump also would n't commit to honoring the election results if Clinton won , breaking a practice among candidates and sitting presidents to show confidence in the the foundation of American democracy and its electoral process .
Biden has also raised concerns about the integrity of the election , accusing Trump of sowing fear and chaos .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single greatest concern .
This president is going to try to steal this election , ” Biden in July told Trevor Noah on `` The Daily Show . ''
`` This is the guy who said all mail-in ballots are fraudulent — voting by mail — while he sits behind a desk in the Oval Office and writes his mail-in ballot to vote in the primary . ''
President Trump mailed his vote to Florida and said that state 's mail-in voting system can be trusted because it 's managed by a Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a Democrat , and Trump said he does n't trust mail-in balloting in states run by Democrats .
Trump this week said he was filling the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's death because the court would need all nine jurists to decide election issues .
Democrats worry Trump is trying to stack the bench and win in a scenario similar to 2000 when the Supreme Court decided the race between former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Al Gore .
`` I do n't see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without multiple lawsuits , '' Madonna said .
Candy Woodall is a reporter for the USA Today Network .
She can be reached at 717-480-1783 or on Twitter at @ candynotcandace .

Candy Woodall, USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania Capitol Bureau

Biden said he will win Scranton. Trump said he will only lose if it's rigged. Who's right?
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump won't commit to peaceful transfer of power President Donald Trump again declined on Wednesday to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the Nov. 3 presidential election. Democratic challenger Joe Biden said Trump "says the most irrational things." (Sept. 24) AP
YORK, Pa. – Pennsylvania has a long history of voting Democrat for president.
In every presidential election since 1988, Pennsylvania has given its electoral votes, which have ranged from 23 to 20 in the last 30 years, to the Democratic nominee.
That pattern changed in 2016, when then-Republican nominee Donald J. Trump won the state narrowly by 44,000 votes, or less than 1 percent. Those 44,000 voters wouldn't fill half of the capacity at Penn State's Beaver Stadium.
But they were enough to decide the razor-thin 2016 election in Pennsylvania, where more than 6.1 million people voted.
Analysts have been predicting another close race in battleground Pennsylvania. But if the results aren't in Trump's favor, it's because the election was rigged, the president has said.
Then a candidate, Trump in 2016 was down in the polls and said the election was rigged. He won.
Trump is down in the polls again and saying that mail-in balloting will allow widespread voting fraud, rigging the election. His campaign's lawsuit against mail-in balloting in Pennsylvania produced no evidence of fraud in the state's primary.
But there are foreign influences working to undermine the U.S. presidential election, according to the FBI.
U.S. intelligence officials have said Russian operatives worked to interfere with the 2016 election and are doing it again, spreading false information through social media. Four years ago, Russian meddlers were trying to make Democrat Hillary Clinton lose and help Trump win, according to the FBI.
This year, Russian operatives are working to help Trump win, while China and Iran want a Joe Biden victory, intelligence reports say.
More: FBI warns delayed election results could be exploited by foreign actors spreading disinformation
US intel: Russia working to defeat Biden; China and Iran prefer Trump defeat
New investigation in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's Republican majority Legislature passed a voting reform package in 2019, months before the coronavirus was detected in China and nearly half a year before it was detected in Pennsylvania.
The legislation enabled mail-in voting, which Gov. Tom Wolf says will help protect vulnerable Pennsylvanians who may be susceptible to COVID-19. For example, the virus has been most deadly to seniors in the state, accounting for about 70 percent of all the covid-related deaths in Pennsylvania.
But mail-in voting is coming under scrutiny in a contentious presidential election year, and a new federal investigation in Luzerne County, a swing county in blue-collar northeastern Pennsylvania flipped by Trump in 2016, is adding fuel to the president's claims against election integrity.
The Justice Department on Thursday said it is investigating potential issues with nine military mail-in ballots. Of the nine ballots involved in the inquiry, seven ballots were marked for Trump and were "discarded," according to a letter from U.S. Attorney David Freed to the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections.
Military ballots are supposed to be stored and unopened until no earlier than 7 a.m. on Election Day, according to state law.
It was explained to investigators the envelopes used for official overseas, military, absentee and mail-in ballot requests are so similar that the staff believed they were receiving ballot requests and didn't want to miss them, Freed said in the letter.
"Our interviews further revealed that this issue was a problem in the primary election — therefore a known issue — and that the problem has not been corrected," Freed said.
The Justice Department is working to make sure every vote is counted by Election Day.
Joe Biden talks systemic racism and COVID-19 at town hall Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden spoke about systematic racism at a town hall in Pennsylvania hosted by CNN's Anderson Cooper. USA TODAY
Why this matters
Two counties in northeastern Pennsylvania — Luzerne and Lackawanna — make up one of the most important areas in the 2020 election, especially for Trump.
He was propelled to the White House on the backs of blue-collar workers in the northeast and southeast corners of Pennsylvania who had previously voted for Democrats.
Recent polling shows some of those voters are favoring Biden and going home to their party, and the president is also losing ground with older workers.
"President Trump needs working-class voters in the northeast and southwest if he's going to win Pennsylvania again," said Terry Madonna, a pollster and political analyst at Franklin & Marshall College.
"It's different for Joe Biden," said Jesse White, a political strategist at Perpetual Fortitude, a Democratic consulting and digital management firm. "If Biden wins, it will be on the backs of suburban women across the state."
More: Ginsburg's death is raising the stakes in the Pa. presidential election: 'It's enormous'
More: Why Biden and Trump are both afraid of Pennsylvania: Ballot 'chaos' and voting 'sabotage'
Both Biden and Trump like their chances in the northeast, especially in Biden's hometown of Scranton. And in a tight race in Pennsylvania, where Biden's lead is within the margin of error, that area could be a difference-maker.
After a CNN town hall in Scranton last Thursday, Biden was asked by reporters if he could win his hometown. Former President Barack Obama, with Biden as his running mate, won Scranton by double digits in 2008 and 2012. Four years ago, Trump almost won Lackawanna County, where Scranton is, and he did flip neighboring Luzerne County.
Trump blames ballots, won't commit to peaceful transfer of power President Donald Trump, who uses mail-in voting himself, has baselessly claimed widespread mail voting will lead to election fraud. USA TODAY
“I will win Scranton," Biden said. "Listen to me. I will win Scranton. And we were losing Scranton and Lackawanna County til I got put on the ticket. This is home. I know these people.”
He was then asked if he thinks he is why Obama won Scranton.
“I know I helped in this county," Biden said. "I helped in this state. We were losing by seven points in Pennsylvania. I get announced as the candidate. Five days later, we were up by 6.”
Biden is up by 6 points again in the latest Franklin & Marshall poll, but Trump said he will win Scranton and Pennsylvania.
During a campaign stop last month in Old Forge, just 10 minutes south of Scranton, Trump repeated his claim that the only way he will lose is if the election is rigged and again raised concerns about mail-in voting.
"So this is just a way they’re trying to steal the election, and everybody knows that," Trump said. "Because the only way they’re going to win is by a rigged election. I really believe that."
More: Trump in Pa.: What we know about tickets and how to watch his stop near Harrisburg
More: VP Pence to host debate watch party in Pa. as Trump and Biden face off for the first time
He leaves no room for the idea that, if Biden wins this year, the state is returning to a decades-long pattern of electing a Democrat for president.
Trump has, during multiple campaign stops in Pennsylvania, said he would win Pennsylvania "bigger" this year than he did four years ago.
And this week, the president wouldn't commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the Nov. 3 presidential election.
“We’re going to have to see what happens,” Trump said at a news conference. “You know that I’ve been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster.”
In 2016, Trump also wouldn't commit to honoring the election results if Clinton won, breaking a practice among candidates and sitting presidents to show confidence in the the foundation of American democracy and its electoral process.
Biden has also raised concerns about the integrity of the election, accusing Trump of sowing fear and chaos.
“It’s my greatest concern. My single greatest concern. This president is going to try to steal this election,” Biden in July told Trevor Noah on "The Daily Show." "This is the guy who said all mail-in ballots are fraudulent — voting by mail — while he sits behind a desk in the Oval Office and writes his mail-in ballot to vote in the primary."
President Trump mailed his vote to Florida and said that state's mail-in voting system can be trusted because it's managed by a Republican governor. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is a Democrat, and Trump said he doesn't trust mail-in balloting in states run by Democrats.
Trump this week said he was filling the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death because the court would need all nine jurists to decide election issues. Democrats worry Trump is trying to stack the bench and win in a scenario similar to 2000 when the Supreme Court decided the race between former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Al Gore.
"I don't see how we get out of this election without multiple lawsuits," Madonna said.
Candy Woodall is a reporter for the USA Today Network. She can be reached at 717-480-1783 or on Twitter at @candynotcandace.


usatoday--2020-09-25--'He needs to get involved': Trump chief of staff rips FBI director for testimony on voter fraud

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows criticized FBI Director Christopher Wray on Friday after Wray told a congressional committee that , contrary to President Donald Trump 's claims , he has seen no evidence of widespread voter fraud .
`` With all due respect to Director Wray , he has a hard time finding emails in his own FBI , let alone figuring out whether there 's any kind of voter fraud , '' Meadows said on `` CBS This Morning '' when asked about Wray 's statement .
He suggested Wray `` drill down '' on existing voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discarded ballots the Justice Department said it was investigating in Pennsylvania .
`` Perhaps he needs to get involved on the ground and then he would change his testimony on Capitol Hill , '' Meadows said .
On Thursday , the FBI director told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , `` We have not seen , historically , any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election , whether it 's by mail or otherwise . ''
`` Your answer is clear : You 've not seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's something the FBI watches continuously to make sure that 's not happening , '' said Sen. Gary Peters , D-Mich. '' That 's something we would investigate seriously and aggressively , '' Wray agreed .
While the FBI has seen voter fraud `` at the local level , from time to time , '' Wray said it `` would be a major challenge for an adversary '' to `` change a federal election outcome by mounting that kind of fraud at scale . ''
`` But people should make no mistake , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and watching it carefully because we 're in uncharted territory , '' said Wray , who has warned of the dangers posed by foreign election interference efforts and a `` steady drumbeat of misinformation . ''
Concerns about the spread of COVID-19 has prompted many states to expand early voting options , including voting by mail .
Trump has railed against that effort for months , claiming , without evidence , that mailed-in ballots are part an effort to rig the election against him .
Despite polls that consistently show him trailing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has insisted the only way he could lose the election was if it was `` stolen . ''
Recently , Trump has cited his unfounded claims about voting by mail as a reason he might not accept the election results .
This week , he sparked bipartisan backlash after taking the unprecedented step of refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power because of his professed concerns about voter fraud .
Election between 'Trump and democracy ' : Bernie Sanders sounds alarm on president refusing defeat if he loses

'He needs to get involved': Trump chief of staff rips FBI director for testimony on voter fraud
Show Caption Hide Caption Pelosi: Trump 'honor your oath' in power transfer Congressional leaders from both parties, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, swiftly pushed back Thursday after President Donald Trump declined to commit to a peaceful transfer of power. (Sept. 24) AP
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows criticized FBI Director Christopher Wray on Friday after Wray told a congressional committee that, contrary to President Donald Trump's claims, he has seen no evidence of widespread voter fraud.
"With all due respect to Director Wray, he has a hard time finding emails in his own FBI, let alone figuring out whether there's any kind of voter fraud," Meadows said on "CBS This Morning" when asked about Wray's statement. He suggested Wray "drill down" on existing voter fraud investigations, such as the nine discarded ballots the Justice Department said it was investigating in Pennsylvania.
"Perhaps he needs to get involved on the ground and then he would change his testimony on Capitol Hill," Meadows said.
On Thursday, the FBI director told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, "We have not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it's by mail or otherwise."
"Your answer is clear: You've not seen any widespread fraud by mail and it's something the FBI watches continuously to make sure that's not happening," said Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich.
"That's something we would investigate seriously and aggressively," Wray agreed.
While the FBI has seen voter fraud "at the local level, from time to time," Wray said it "would be a major challenge for an adversary" to "change a federal election outcome by mounting that kind of fraud at scale."
"But people should make no mistake, we're vigilant as to the threat and watching it carefully because we're in uncharted territory," said Wray, who has warned of the dangers posed by foreign election interference efforts and a "steady drumbeat of misinformation."
With all due respect to Director Wray, he has a hard time finding emails in his own FBI, let alone figuring out whether there's any kind of voter fraud.” — White House Chief of Staff @MarkMeadows on FBI Dir. Christopher Wray saying he's seen no evidence of widespread voter fraud pic.twitter.com/W5PUfpnWCn — CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) September 25, 2020
Concerns about the spread of COVID-19 has prompted many states to expand early voting options, including voting by mail. Trump has railed against that effort for months, claiming, without evidence, that mailed-in ballots are part an effort to rig the election against him. Despite polls that consistently show him trailing the Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, Trump has insisted the only way he could lose the election was if it was "stolen."
Recently, Trump has cited his unfounded claims about voting by mail as a reason he might not accept the election results. This week, he sparked bipartisan backlash after taking the unprecedented step of refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power because of his professed concerns about voter fraud.
Election between 'Trump and democracy': Bernie Sanders sounds alarm on president refusing defeat if he loses


usatoday--2020-09-26--Coronavirus updates: 9% of American adults exposed to COVID-19; world deaths could double before a v

Coronavirus updates: 9% of American adults exposed to COVID-19; world deaths could double before a vaccine is widely available, WHO warns

Americans have a long way to go for `` herd immunity '' given that only about 9 % of adults in the U.S. have been exposed to COVID-19 .
That 's according to the largest study so far that looks for evidence of the disease in peoples ' blood .
California 's health secretary said Friday that there have been increases in the number of newly confirmed cases , hospital emergency department visits for COVID-19 and new hospitalizations for confirmed or suspected cases .
And in Florida , Gov .
Ron DeSantis lifted restrictions on restaurants and other businesses in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s economy despite the spread of the coronavirus .
• California is seeing a concerning uptick in cases , which appear to be attributable to gatherings around Labor Day .
• Texas A & M 's Midnight Yell was a little `` eerie '' because no fans were there due to COVID restrictions .
• Areas with high numbers of Black and non-white Latino residents had higher infection rates than mostly white communities , a study on herd immunity found .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Johns Hopkins University data .
Globally , there have been more than 32.6 million cases and over 989,000 fatalities .
📰 What we 're reading : Coronavirus has exposed a secret underbelly of the travel business : Ponzi-style schemes to pay bookings .
🗺 Mapping coronavirus : Track the U.S. outbreak , state by state .
This file will be updated throughout the day .
For updates in your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter .
After 7 months , Michigan movie theaters to reopen in two weeks Michigan ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen in two weeks after nearly seven months of closure during the coronavirus pandemic , and the limit on how many people can attend funerals and other indoor events is being raised .
Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer also issued an order Friday requiring the vast majority of students to wear masks in classrooms as of Oct. 5 , and mandating that public and private schools publish information on coronavirus cases .
Indoor cinemas , performance venues , arcades , bingo halls , bowling centers , indoor climbing facilities and trampoline parks can reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on indoor events has been revised to instead allow 20 people per 1,000 square feet or 20 % of fixed seating capacity , up to a maximum of 500 people .
US is nowhere near herd immunity , study finds By the end of July , about 9 percent of American adults had been exposed to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 , according to a new study of dialysis patients , the largest yet looking for evidence of the disease in people 's blood .
That data shows the American public is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' – having enough infections to prevent further spread of the virus .
The infection rates varied from essentially zero in some states that avoided infection by mid-summer , to more than one-third of residents in parts of New York hard-hit in the spring .
The new study , published in The Lancet , is in line with previous , smaller studies , and also showed areas with high numbers of Black and non-white Latino residents had higher infection rates than mostly white communities .
A USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records for new cases in a week while four states had a record number of deaths in a week .
New case records were set in Minnesota , Montana , Oklahoma , South Dakota , Utah and Wyoming , and also Puerto Rico .
Record numbers of deaths were reported in Missouri , Montana , North Dakota and South Dakota .
The United States has reported 7,034,432 cases and 203,789 deaths as of Saturday morning .
California cases , which had gone down , now seeing concerning upticks California 's health secretary said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of newly confirmed cases , hospital emergency department visits for COVID-19 and new hospitalizations for confirmed or suspected cases .
Dr. Mark Ghaly says the trends appear largely attributable to the Labor Day holiday and could lead to an 89 % increase in hospitalizations in the next month .
Ghaly notes the state is heading into another hot weekend , which could increase people gathering with others .
He urged renewed efforts to prevent spread .
COVID-19 forces Texas A & M to keep fans out of Midnight Yell Texas A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran into an almost empty Kyle Field as Friday night crept into Saturday morning for their Midnight Yell .
It ’ s a tradition almost 90 years old , normally held in front of more than 25,000 people before every football game .
No fans were allowed this year because of the coronavirus , leaving the Yell Leaders to perform only to the school ’ s band , their voices echoing in the cavernous space .
“ It was a little eerie , but I think it went well , ” head Yell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moments after it ended .
fficial : 2M deaths 'likely ' before a vaccine widely available The global death toll from the new coronavirus sits just below 1 million , but without further action to slow the spread , it will likely double before a vaccine is widely available , a World Health Organization official said Friday .
Dr. Mike Ryan , head the WHO ’ s health emergencies program , said that 2 million deaths was `` not only imaginable , but sadly very likely '' in the absence of increased testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearing and other measures to slow the spread of the virus .
“ The time for action is now on every single aspect of this strategic approach , ” Ryan said .
Gov .
Ron DeSantis said Friday he was lifting COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants and other businesses across Florida as he pushed to reopen the state 's economy .
DeSantis also said any local government limitations affecting restaurants and other businesses would have to be justified by his administration .
“ We ’ re not closing anything going forward , ” DeSantis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is prepared with plans in place if infections increase again .
The Phase 3 order will allow theme parks to operate at full capacity and lift any restrictions on gatherings , although the state still is recommending people avoid crowded spaces .
Bars can go beyond 50 % capacity , if local governments give them the green light , DeSantis said .
• In your inbox : Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network .
Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still unknown about the coronavirus .
But what we do know , we 're sharing with you .
Join our Facebook group , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .
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Sign up for Staying Apart , Together .

Coronavirus updates: Woman held against her will in quarantine, judge finds; 9% of American adults exposed to COVID-19
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19 testing: Positivity rates and why they are so important COVID-19 widespread testing is crucial to fighting the pandemic, but is there enough testing? The answer is in the positivity rates. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Americans have a long way to go for "herd immunity" given that only about 9% of adults in the U.S. have been exposed to COVID-19. That's according to the largest study so far that looks for evidence of the disease in peoples' blood.
California's health secretary said Friday that there have been increases in the number of newly confirmed cases, hospital emergency department visits for COVID-19 and new hospitalizations for confirmed or suspected cases.
And in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted restrictions on restaurants and other businesses in a move to reopen the state’s economy despite the spread of the coronavirus.
Some significant developments:
California is seeing a concerning uptick in cases, which appear to be attributable to gatherings around Labor Day.
Texas A&M's Midnight Yell was a little "eerie" because no fans were there due to COVID restrictions.
Areas with high numbers of Black and non-white Latino residents had higher infection rates than mostly white communities, a study on herd immunity found.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 7 million cases and 204,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Globally, there have been more than 32.7 million cases and over 991,000 fatalities.
📰 What we're reading: Coronavirus has exposed a secret underbelly of the travel business: Ponzi-style schemes to pay bookings.
🗺 Mapping coronavirus: Track the U.S. outbreak, state by state.
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
A Superior Court judge in Guam has determined that the Department of Public Health and Social Services did not follow the law when quarantining travelers after multiple passengers filed legal action against the government's quarantine policy.
After hearing from people held in the facility, Superior Court of Guam Judge Elyze Iriarte determined some passengers did not quarantine voluntarily, and the department held one woman against her will.
“For at least 10 days, she was confined against her will without a meaningful and prompt opportunity to be heard regarding such confinement and not advised of her right to counsel,” Iriarte wrote in her decision to release the woman and her children from the government facility.
A newly-updated quarantine policy says that everyone entering the island by land or sea is subject to a 14-day quarantine, with all passengers going to a government of Guam facility unless "the individual qualified for quarantine at an approved rental lodging or personal residence as authorized by (Public Health)."
— Jasmine Stole Weiss, Pacific Daily News
Michigan’s movie theaters and other venues can reopen in two weeks after nearly seven months of closure during the coronavirus pandemic, and the limit on how many people can attend funerals and other indoor events is being raised.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also issued an order Friday requiring the vast majority of students to wear masks in classrooms as of Oct. 5, and mandating that public and private schools publish information on coronavirus cases.
Indoor cinemas, performance venues, arcades, bingo halls, bowling centers, indoor climbing facilities and trampoline parks can reopen starting Oct. 9. A 10-person cap on indoor events has been revised to instead allow 20 people per 1,000 square feet or 20% of fixed seating capacity, up to a maximum of 500 people.
By the end of July, about 9 percent of American adults had been exposed to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to a new study of dialysis patients, the largest yet looking for evidence of the disease in people's blood.
That data shows the American public is a long way from achieving "herd immunity" – having enough infections to prevent further spread of the virus.
The infection rates varied from essentially zero in some states that avoided infection by mid-summer, to more than one-third of residents in parts of New York hard-hit in the spring.
The new study, published in The Lancet, is in line with previous, smaller studies, and also showed areas with high numbers of Black and non-white Latino residents had higher infection rates than mostly white communities.
– Karen Weintraub
More than 60 public health experts have called on the pharmaceutical company Pfizer not to seek approval for its coronavirus vaccine until it has followed trial participants for at least two months after their second dose, according to one of the signators.
"To be successful, the public needs to have the utmost trust in the vaccine and the science behind it," the letter said, according to Eric Topol, a professor of molecular medicine who posted the letter Saturday on Twitter.
The Washington Post reports that Pfizer said in a statement that it shared the writers’ “commitment to rigorous safety standards,” but did not directly respond to their request. Pfizer, along with other pharmaceutical companies, signed a pledge earlier this month not to cut corners on a coranvirus vaccine.
The letter noted that since many trial participants have not yet received their second dose, monitoring should occur through at least late November before an application for an Emergency Use Authorization should be considered by the Food and drug administration.
It said the submission of an application before that standard would "would severely erode public trust" and "prolong the pandemic, with disastrous consequences."
President Donald Trump has repeatedly said a vaccine would be available by Election Day, Nov. 3, or sooner.
A USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data through late Friday shows six states set records for new cases in a week while four states had a record number of deaths in a week.
New case records were set in Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, and also Puerto Rico. Record numbers of deaths were reported in Missouri, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
The United States has reported 7,034,432 cases and 203,789 deaths as of Saturday morning.
– Michael Stucka
California's health secretary said Friday that there have been increases in the number of newly confirmed cases, hospital emergency department visits for COVID-19 and new hospitalizations for confirmed or suspected cases.
Dr. Mark Ghaly says the trends appear largely attributable to the Labor Day holiday and could lead to an 89% increase in hospitalizations in the next month.
Ghaly notes the state is heading into another hot weekend, which could increase people gathering with others. He urged renewed efforts to prevent spread.
Texas A&M’s five Yell Leaders ran into an almost empty Kyle Field as Friday night crept into Saturday morning for their Midnight Yell.
It’s a tradition almost 90 years old, normally held in front of more than 25,000 people before every football game. No fans were allowed this year because of the coronavirus, leaving the Yell Leaders to perform only to the school’s band, their voices echoing in the cavernous space.
“It was a little eerie, but I think it went well,” head Yell Leader Keller Cox said through his mask moments after it ended.
The global death toll from the new coronavirus sits just below 1 million, but without further action to slow the spread, it will likely double before a vaccine is widely available, a World Health Organization official said Friday.
Dr. Mike Ryan, head the WHO’s health emergencies program, said that 2 million deaths was "not only imaginable, but sadly very likely" in the absence of increased testing, tracing, social distancing, mask wearing and other measures to slow the spread of the virus.
“The time for action is now on every single aspect of this strategic approach,” Ryan said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday he was lifting COVID-19 restrictions on restaurants and other businesses across Florida as he pushed to reopen the state's economy.
DeSantis also said any local government limitations affecting restaurants and other businesses would have to be justified by his administration.
“We’re not closing anything going forward,” DeSantis said, while insisting that the state is prepared with plans in place if infections increase again.
The Phase 3 order will allow theme parks to operate at full capacity and lift any restrictions on gatherings, although the state still is recommending people avoid crowded spaces.
Bars can go beyond 50% capacity, if local governments give them the green light, DeSantis said.
– John Kennedy, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
In your inbox: Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter .
Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. . On Facebook: A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. Join our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.
A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19. Tips for coping: Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. Sign up for Staying Apart, Together.
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-09-26--'Blatant disregard and disrespect of Black people': Virginia district apologizes for segregated scho

Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia issued a formal apology Friday for being one of the last school systems in the nation to desegregate its schools , following a year of controversy and a probe by the state 's attorney general into allegations of racism .
In a letter addressed to the Black community of Loudoun County , officials said they were sorry for their segregated schools which lasted until 1967 .
That 's nearly 13 years after the nation ’ s highest court ruled on public school segregation .
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the 1954 decision Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segregation was unconstitutional , and that public schools should integrate “ with all deliberate speed . ''
A federal court order in 1967 required the Loudoun County Public Schools to fully integrate , closing the loopholes that it had previously been using for over a dozen years .
The apology is one step of the district ’ s 16-step action framework to address systemic racism , which the district released this summer after steeps of controversy surrounding allegedly racist policies .
In a report released June 2019 by the Equity Collaborative , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , students shared anecdotes of their peers use of racial slurs , unfair disciplinary policies and academic expectations .
`` The N-word gets used ALL the time here , '' said one student , who was anonymous .
`` When a kid who is misbehaving and is Black — why do you hear “ that kid ’ s going to end up in jail someday ” — but you don ’ t hear that about the White kids who mess up , '' another student said .
Later in 2019 , the Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to the district announcing it was opening an investigation into the allegations outlined in the report , and accusations that the district barred Black students from equal access to advanced programs .
The state 's attorney general said that the district must make available all requested records and certain personnel for interviews , according to the letter , which was attached in the superintendent 's response to the request .
Friday 's letter further apologized for `` negative impact , damage and disadvantages to Black students and families that were caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including unequal school plans and pay , as well as segregated buildings and transportation .
The school board also wrote that it `` must continually assess the status of racial equity in the school system and correct its past transgressions as it pertains to race .
Although we recognize that we have yet to fully correct or eradicate matters of racial inequality , we hope that issuing this apology with genuine remorse is a valuable step . ''
Indeed , the letter comes as the school district reports racist incidents in its virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During the week of Sept. 8 , several students used racist slurs during class and showed sexual or racist images on screens during online classes , Williams told families in an email , reported local college radio WAMU 88.5 .
But this incident is far from the only racist incident in the district in recent years .
In Feb. 2019 , the district 's Madison 's Trust Elementary School issued an apology for holding a physical education class where students in third , fourth and fifth grades pretended to be slaves while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Underground Railroad .
The lesson was meant to be a cooperative exercise where students worked together to move through six stations representing parts of the Underground Railroad .

'Blatant disregard and disrespect of Black people': Virginia district apologizes for segregated schools - 53 years later
Show Caption Hide Caption 50 years on, US school segregation still casts a shadow 50 years ago, US Supreme Court established the right to public education for all races. But in rural Virginia, black students were shut out of school for 6 more years because the county closed down the public school system. Duration: 02:51 Video pro AFP
Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia issued a formal apology Friday for being one of the last school systems in the nation to desegregate its schools, following a year of controversy and a probe by the state's attorney general into allegations of racism.
In a letter addressed to the Black community of Loudoun County, officials said they were sorry for their segregated schools which lasted until 1967. That's nearly 13 years after the nation’s highest court ruled on public school segregation.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the 1954 decision Brown v. Board of Education that public school segregation was unconstitutional, and that public schools should integrate “with all deliberate speed." A federal court order in 1967 required the Loudoun County Public Schools to fully integrate, closing the loopholes that it had previously been using for over a dozen years.
The apology is one step of the district’s 16-step action framework to address systemic racism, which the district released this summer after steeps of controversy surrounding allegedly racist policies.
In a report released June 2019 by the Equity Collaborative, a consulting firm hired by superintendent Eric Williams, students shared anecdotes of their peers use of racial slurs, unfair disciplinary policies and academic expectations.
"The N-word gets used ALL the time here," said one student, who was anonymous.
"When a kid who is misbehaving and is Black — why do you hear “that kid’s going to end up in jail someday” — but you don’t hear that about the White kids who mess up," another student said.
Later in 2019, the Virginia Office of the Attorney General sent a letter to the district announcing it was opening an investigation into the allegations outlined in the report, and accusations that the district barred Black students from equal access to advanced programs.
The state's attorney general said that the district must make available all requested records and certain personnel for interviews, according to the letter, which was attached in the superintendent's response to the request.
Virginia schoolapologizes for 'insensitive' Underground Railroad activity
Friday's letter further apologized for "negative impact, damage and disadvantages to Black students and families that were caused by decisions made" by the district, including unequal school plans and pay, as well as segregated buildings and transportation.
The school board also wrote that it "must continually assess the status of racial equity in the school system and correct its past transgressions as it pertains to race. Although we recognize that we have yet to fully correct or eradicate matters of racial inequality, we hope that issuing this apology with genuine remorse is a valuable step."
Indeed, the letter comes as the school district reports racist incidents in its virtual classrooms on the first week of school.
During the week of Sept. 8, several students used racist slurs during class and showed sexual or racist images on screens during online classes, Williams told families in an email, reported local college radio WAMU 88.5.
But this incident is far from the only racist incident in the district in recent years.
In Feb. 2019, the district's Madison's Trust Elementary School issued an apology for holding a physical education class where students in third, fourth and fifth grades pretended to be slaves while participating in an obstacle course representing the Underground Railroad.
The lesson was meant to be a cooperative exercise where students worked together to move through six stations representing parts of the Underground Railroad.
Contributing: Brett Molina, USA TODAY