usatoday--2020-10-20--Breonna Taylor juror says grand jury wasn't given chance to weigh homicide charges

LOUISVILLE , Ky. – The grand jury never deliberated whether homicide or other charges were justified against the police officers in the Breonna Taylor case because they were never given the chance , an anonymous juror said in a statement Tuesday .
`` The grand jury was not presented any charges other that the three Wanton Endangerment charges against Detective Brett Hankison , '' the grand juror said .
`` The grand jury did not have homicide offenses explained to them .
The grand jury never heard anything about those laws .
`` Questions were asked about additional charges and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be none because the prosecutors did n't feel they could make them stick . ''
The statement was released by the Glogower Law Office after Jefferson Circuit Judge Annie O'Connell issued a 10-page ruling on a motion allowing the grand juror to speak .
O'Connell officially dismissed a grand juror 's motion to publicly speak about Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron 's handling of the investigation .
Previously : Grand juror says Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron 's 'statements and actions ' in Breonna Taylor case remain a 'mystery' But Jefferson Circuit Judge Annie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open to the grand juror refiling the motion .
O'Connell also rejected Cameron 's argument that releasing a copy of the grand jury proceedings would `` destroy the principle of secrecy that serves as the foundation of the grand jury system.
” She noted that another judge , Ann Bailey Smith , already ordered the grand jury recordings to be made public in the case against fired Louisville Metro Police Detective Hankison .
O'Connell also said Cameron has made `` multiple public statements and characterizations about the grand jury and the resulting indictment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that makes Cameron 's objection to releasing grand jury information `` read as theatrical sturm und drang . ''
That German phrase literally means `` storm and stress '' but has come to signify something that is overdramatic .
Neither Cameron 's office nor attorney Kevin Glogower , who represents two grand jurors who want to speak about the proceedings , immediately responded to requests for comments .
Cameron decided for the grand jury that the two other officers involved in Taylor 's March 13 death – Sgt .
Jonathan Mattingly and Detective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they returned fire after Mattingly was hit once by a shot fired by Taylor 's boyfriend , Kenneth Walker , as they were trying to execute a search warrant at her home .
Walker has said he thought someone was trying to rob the couple and did not know they were police officers .
More : California ballot drop box set ablaze in possible arson , damaging up to 100 ballots

Andrew Wolfson, Louisville Courier Journal

Breonna Taylor juror says grand jury wasn't given chance to weigh homicide charges
Show Caption Hide Caption Attorney representing Breonna Taylor grand juror holds press conference Glogower is representing one of the grand jurors in the Breonna Taylor case who wants the transcripts of the proceedings released. Louisville Courier Journal
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The grand jury never deliberated whether homicide or other charges were justified against the police officers in the Breonna Taylor case because they were never given the chance, an anonymous juror said in a statement Tuesday.
"The grand jury was not presented any charges other that the three Wanton Endangerment charges against Detective Brett Hankison," the grand juror said. "The grand jury did not have homicide offenses explained to them. The grand jury never heard anything about those laws.
"Questions were asked about additional charges and the grand jury was told there would be none because the prosecutors didn't feel they could make them stick."
The statement was released by the Glogower Law Office after Jefferson Circuit Judge Annie O'Connell issued a 10-page ruling on a motion allowing the grand juror to speak.
O'Connell officially dismissed a grand juror's motion to publicly speak about Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's handling of the investigation.
Previously: Grand juror says Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron's 'statements and actions' in Breonna Taylor case remain a 'mystery'
But Jefferson Circuit Judge Annie O'Connell's 10-page ruling left the door open to the grand juror refiling the motion.
O'Connell also rejected Cameron's argument that releasing a copy of the grand jury proceedings would "destroy the principle of secrecy that serves as the foundation of the grand jury system.”
She noted that another judge, Ann Bailey Smith, already ordered the grand jury recordings to be made public in the case against fired Louisville Metro Police Detective Hankison.
O'Connell also said Cameron has made "multiple public statements and characterizations about the grand jury and the resulting indictment" of Hankison.
She she said that makes Cameron's objection to releasing grand jury information "read as theatrical sturm und drang." That German phrase literally means "storm and stress" but has come to signify something that is overdramatic.
Neither Cameron's office nor attorney Kevin Glogower, who represents two grand jurors who want to speak about the proceedings, immediately responded to requests for comments.
Cameron decided for the grand jury that the two other officers involved in Taylor's March 13 death – Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove – acted in self defense when they returned fire after Mattingly was hit once by a shot fired by Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, as they were trying to execute a search warrant at her home.
Walker has said he thought someone was trying to rob the couple and did not know they were police officers.
Follow reporter Andrew Wolfson on Twitter: @adwolfson
More: California ballot drop box set ablaze in possible arson, damaging up to 100 ballots
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usatoday--2020-10-21--Voting across the US live updates: Poll workers prep for bad behavior; California sues GOP over ball

Election officials across the nation continued to review security plans Tuesday at early and Election Day voting sites , strengthening ties with local law enforcement and training poll workers to prepare for voter intimidation tactics .
There are already signs of wrongdoing , as a ballot drop box in a California town east of Los Angeles was set on fire .
Even before the Sept. 29 presidential debate – when President Donald Trump urged his supporters to `` go into the polls and watch very carefully '' – there was concern over the prospect of voter harassment at the polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll observing has long been a way for parties and outside groups to monitor voting , but such observers typically have to be certified in advance , and detailed rules vary from state to state .
More news to keep in mind : We 're just two weeks away from Election Day .
USA TODAY is keeping track of what 's happening as voters around the country cast ballots .
Keep refreshing this page for updates .
• The Supreme Court ruled that absentee ballots in Pennsylvaniacan be received up to three days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an impact in other states where the deadline for mail-in ballots has been the subject of court battles .
• Early in-person voting began Monday in Florida , the battleground state where the Donald Trump and Joe Biden campaigns have increasingly spent time and money .
( A new Florida poll shows Biden with a narrow lead . )
• Trump and Biden 's microphones will be cut off during portions of Thursday 's debate in Nashville , but the moderator wo n't have a mute button as some had speculated .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said absentee ballot fraud is a real threat .
But a USA TODAY analysis of alleged cases shows that is not true .
Also : We checked the facts on whether Pennsylvania ballots need two envelopes to be counted .
Rating : True .
Voters are already casting ballots : Numbers compiled by @ electproject show 3.3 million people have already voted .
In other numbers , the Guardian reports 14 % of registered voters in swing states have had their mail-in ballots accepted .
USA TODAY 's politics team has the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's attorney general sued the state 's Republican Party on Tuesday , asking a judge to make them hand over the names and contact information of every voter who used one of the GOP 's unofficial ballot drop boxes .
Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Secretary of State Alex Padilla — both Democrats — last week ordered Republicans to remove their unofficial drop boxes , declaring them to be illegal .
But they relented on Friday after GOP leaders said the boxes were only used as tools to collect ballots under the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Becerra is still investigating how the GOP is using the drop boxes .
Friday , he issued subpoenas to state and local Republican party officials ordering them to reveal the location of every box plus the names , addresses and dates of birth for everyone who had used them .
GOP leaders refused , saying that information is protected by the Constitution and disclosing it would “ violate the secrecy of the ballot and the trust of the voters.
” Drop box fire in California may have damaged 100 ballots Up to 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot drop box in a majority-Latino town in California was set on fire Sunday night .
Los Angeles County officials are investigating the box fire in Baldwin Park , a suburb about 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles .
“ The arson of an official ballot drop box by the Baldwin Park Library in the First District has all the signs of an attempt to disenfranchise voters and calls into question the security of our elections , ” Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said in a statement .
“ Tampering , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy will not be tolerated.
” Drop boxes , more commonly used this year because of the pandemic , became a source of controversy last week when Republican Party representatives admittedly distributed several unauthorized ones in three California counties , prompting the state to issue a cease-and-desist order .
A uniformed and armed Miami police officer spotted wearing a pro-Trump face mask at a polling station will be disciplined , Police Chief Jorge Colina said , according to the Miami Herald .
The officer , Daniel Ubeda , was on duty and voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
His mask read , `` Trump 2020 '' and `` No more bull -- -- '' below that .
“ Obviously this is a clear violation of our department policy regarding campaigning while on duty , ” Deputy Chief Ron Papier said .
“ Additionally , the mask has offensive language , which is also a violation of department policy.
” Also in Miami , a U.S .
Postal Service carrier is accused of stealing a Miami-Dade County mail-in ballot among several other pieces of mail , including prepaid debit cards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General said in a federal complaint that between Oct. 5 and Oct. 16 , Crystal Nicole Myrie “ embezzled letters , postal cards and mail which came into her possession intended to be carried or delivered by her , ” the Miami Herald reported .
Nonwhite voters in Georgia wait hours in line to vote , report says Places to vote in Georgia have decreased , causing long lines at polling locations , and it 's affecting nonwhite neighborhoods the most , according to a report by ProPublica , Georgia Public Broadcasting and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Supreme Court decision eliminated federal oversight of election decisions in states with histories of discrimination .
Since then , Georgia 's voter rolls have grown by nearly 2 million people while polling locations have been cut by nearly 10 % , according to an analysis by Georgia Public Broadcasting and ProPublica .
The group reports that young , nonwhite voters have fueled the growth in the voter rolls , especially in Atlanta .
`` The metro Atlanta area has been hit particularly hard ( by closures ) .
The nine counties – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Cobb , Hall , Cherokee , Henry and Clayton – have nearly half of the state ’ s active voters but only 38 % of the polling places , '' the group reported .
Headlines from elsewhere and resources on voting • From ProPublica : Their Electionland project goes deep on issues that can affect eligible voters ' ability to cast a ballot .
• From Pew/Stateline : The Barriers to the Ballot Box project takes on how changes to polling places impact communities .
• Ballotopedia : Resources and guides for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting .
• Associated Press : More voting headlines that should be on your radar .
☑How to make sure your a mail-in ballot is counted and not discarded .
🗳 USA TODAY 's Voter Guide has everything you need on registering to vote , when your state begins voting and what the candidates think about the issues .
📧For updates to your inbox , subscribe to our daily On Politics newsletter .
Voters who might not have gone to the polls in recent years and show up to vote on Election Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Their vote may not count .
Across the nation , states canceled 17.3 million registrations from the 2016 presidential election through the 2018 midterms , according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission .
A look at some states : • In New York , 1.2 million voters are currently on the inactive voting list .
• In New Jersey , 430,000 are deemed inactive , meaning they either had n't voted in recent presidential elections or their status as a registered voter is uncertain .
• Wisconsin had a court battle over whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purging can disenfranchise voters , particularly targeting communities of color , and can suppress totals across the nation , experts said .
It 's a situation playing out in states , and in courtrooms , across the country .
Voters can be purged from voting rolls , or removed erroneously , leaving them and poll workers confused on Election Day .
`` Voter purges are an often-flawed process of cleaning up voter rolls by deleting names from registration lists , '' a 2018 report by New York University ’ s Brennan Center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can prevent eligible people from casting a ballot that counts . ''
Was your voter registration purged ?
Why it might have been , and what you can do about it .
Supreme Court allows Pennsylvania to count ballots received up to Nov. 6 The Supreme Court ruled Monday that absentee ballots in Pennsylvania can be received up to three days beyond Election Day , setting a precedent that could apply to some other states .
A shorthanded court split 4-4 on the decision , and because of the tie , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court stands .
That court had ruled in favor of a three-day extension .
The justices ' order establishes the ground rules for mail-in voting in one of the nation 's key battleground states , where President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden are fighting hard for its 20 electoral votes .
The ruling could have an impact in other states where the deadline for mail-in ballots has been the subject of court battles , including Michigan , North Carolina , Wisconsin , Minnesota , Georgia , Indiana and Montana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal action , urging state courts to extend the Nov. 3 ballot return deadline in light of the COVID-19 pandemic , which presents risks for in-person voting .
Republican Party and state Senate leaders asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block the state court 's ruling as a violation of federal law , which sets Election Day as the first Tuesday in November .
They also said the extension violates the Constitution .
Read more here .
A Memphis poll worker was fired Friday after election officials learned he had turned away voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Black Lives Matter .
“ What he did was patently wrong and he was fired , ” said Suzanne Thompson , spokeswoman for the election commission in Shelby County , Tennessee , where Memphis is located .
State law prohibits people from wearing items with the name of a political party or candidate currently on the ballot while in a polling place , but statements like “ Black Lives Matter ” or “ I Can ’ t Breathe ” are not violations of that law .
Pentagon reiterates that troops have no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump casts doubt on the legitimacy of the vote and refuses to commit to a peaceful transfer of power , Pentagon leaders have sought in varying degrees to shelter the military from the president 's political battles .
Army Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , has been emphatic : Troops have no role in elections .
His boss , Defense Secretary Mark Esper , told Congress the military will adhere to the Constitution .
Concern about Election Day violence escalated after 14 men were charged in domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kidnap Gretchen Whitmer , the Democratic governor of Michigan .
Intimidation at polling places by armed groups has the potential to be a serious problem in areas such as the Midwest , said Kenneth Mayer , a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison .
A private security firm has been recruiting former special operations troops to patrol polling sites on election day in Minnesota , the Washington Post reported .
Though the law varies by state , any poll watchers typically have to be certified in advance .
Federal law prohibits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement agents to polling places , according to the non-partisan Brennan Center for Justice .
Read more here .

Rachel Aretakis, John Bacon and Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY

Voting across the US live updates: Poll workers prep for bad behavior; California sues GOP over ballot boxes; 1.2M New York voters inactive
Show Caption Hide Caption Early voter turnout breaks records, leads to long lines in many states The surge in voting has led to hours long wait times in states, like Georgia and Wisconsin, that have in-person early voting. USA TODAY
Election officials across the nation continued to review security plans Tuesday at early and Election Day voting sites, strengthening ties with local law enforcement and training poll workers to prepare for voter intimidation tactics.
There are already signs of wrongdoing, as a ballot drop box in a California town east of Los Angeles was set on fire.
Even before the Sept. 29 presidential debate – when President Donald Trump urged his supporters to "go into the polls and watch very carefully" – there was concern over the prospect of voter harassment at the polls.
Some context: Poll watching or poll observing has long been a way for parties and outside groups to monitor voting, but such observers typically have to be certified in advance, and detailed rules vary from state to state.
More news to keep in mind: We're just two weeks away from Election Day. USA TODAY is keeping track of what's happening as voters around the country cast ballots. Keep refreshing this page for updates.
The Supreme Court ruled that absentee ballots in Pennsylvania can be received up to three days beyond Election Day. This could have an impact in other states where the deadline for mail-in ballots has been the subject of court battles.
can be received up to three days beyond Election Day. This where the deadline for mail-in ballots has been the subject of court battles. Early in-person voting began Monday in Florida , the battleground state where the Donald Trump and Joe Biden campaigns have increasingly spent time and money. (A new Florida poll shows Biden with a narrow lead .)
Monday in , the battleground state where the Donald Trump and Joe Biden campaigns have increasingly spent time and money. (A new Florida poll shows .) Trump and Biden's microphones will be cut off during portions of Thursday's debate in Nashville, but the moderator won't have a mute button as some had speculated.
If you want to go in-depth: Trump said absentee ballot fraud is a real threat. But a USA TODAY analysis of alleged cases shows that is not true. Also: We checked the facts on whether Pennsylvania ballots need two envelopes to be counted. Rating: True.
Voters are already casting ballots: Numbers compiled by @electproject show 3.3 million people have already voted. In other numbers, the Guardian reports 14% of registered voters in swing states have had their mail-in ballots accepted. USA TODAY's politics team has the latest updates from the campaign trail.
#earlyvote morning update 10/20
At least 33.3 million people have voted in the 2020 general election https://t.co/s8K2xFDeSA pic.twitter.com/sN4r9lSppW — Michael McDonald (@ElectProject) October 20, 2020
California's attorney general sued the state's Republican Party on Tuesday, asking a judge to make them hand over the names and contact information of every voter who used one of the GOP's unofficial ballot drop boxes.
Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Secretary of State Alex Padilla — both Democrats — last week ordered Republicans to remove their unofficial drop boxes, declaring them to be illegal. But they relented on Friday after GOP leaders said the boxes were only used as tools to collect ballots under the state's “ballot harvesting” law.
Becerra is still investigating how the GOP is using the drop boxes. Friday, he issued subpoenas to state and local Republican party officials ordering them to reveal the location of every box plus the names, addresses and dates of birth for everyone who had used them.
GOP leaders refused, saying that information is protected by the Constitution and disclosing it would “violate the secrecy of the ballot and the trust of the voters.”
Up to 100 ballots may have been damaged when a ballot drop box in a majority-Latino town in California was set on fire Sunday night. Los Angeles County officials are investigating the box fire in Baldwin Park, a suburb about 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
“The arson of an official ballot drop box by the Baldwin Park Library in the First District has all the signs of an attempt to disenfranchise voters and calls into question the security of our elections,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis said in a statement. “Tampering, or attempts to tamper, with our democracy will not be tolerated.”
Drop boxes, more commonly used this year because of the pandemic, became a source of controversy last week when Republican Party representatives admittedly distributed several unauthorized ones in three California counties, prompting the state to issue a cease-and-desist order.
– Joshua Bote
A uniformed and armed Miami police officer spotted wearing a pro-Trump face mask at a polling station will be disciplined, Police Chief Jorge Colina said, according to the Miami Herald. The officer, Daniel Ubeda, was on duty and voting at the city's Government Center on Tuesday. His mask read, "Trump 2020'' and "No more bull----'' below that.
“Obviously this is a clear violation of our department policy regarding campaigning while on duty,” Deputy Chief Ron Papier said. “Additionally, the mask has offensive language, which is also a violation of department policy.”
Also in Miami, a U.S. Postal Service carrier is accused of stealing a Miami-Dade County mail-in ballot among several other pieces of mail, including prepaid debit cards. The Postal Service Office of Inspector General said in a federal complaint that between Oct. 5 and Oct. 16, Crystal Nicole Myrie “embezzled letters, postal cards and mail which came into her possession intended to be carried or delivered by her,” the Miami Herald reported.
Places to vote in Georgia have decreased, causing long lines at polling locations, and it's affecting nonwhite neighborhoods the most, according to a report by ProPublica, Georgia Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio.
In 2013, a Supreme Court decision eliminated federal oversight of election decisions in states with histories of discrimination. Since then, Georgia's voter rolls have grown by nearly 2 million people while polling locations have been cut by nearly 10%, according to an analysis by Georgia Public Broadcasting and ProPublica. The group reports that young, nonwhite voters have fueled the growth in the voter rolls, especially in Atlanta.
"The metro Atlanta area has been hit particularly hard (by closures). The nine counties – Fulton, Gwinnett, Forsyth, DeKalb, Cobb, Hall, Cherokee, Henry and Clayton – have nearly half of the state’s active voters but only 38% of the polling places," the group reported.
From ProPublica: Their Electionland project goes deep on issues that can affect eligible voters' ability to cast a ballot.
Their Electionland project goes deep on issues that can affect eligible voters' ability to cast a ballot. From Pew/Stateline: The Barriers to the Ballot Box project takes on how changes to polling places impact communities.
The Barriers to the Ballot Box project takes on how changes to polling places impact communities. Ballotopedia: Resources and guides for not just the election, but also voting.
Resources and guides for not just the election, but also voting. Associated Press: More voting headlines that should be on your radar.
☑How to make sure your a mail-in ballot is counted and not discarded.
🗳 USA TODAY's Voter Guide has everything you need on registering to vote, when your state begins voting and what the candidates think about the issues.
📧For updates to your inbox, subscribe to our daily On Politics newsletter.
Millions purged from state voter rolls
Voters who might not have gone to the polls in recent years and show up to vote on Election Day might be in for a surprise: Their vote may not count.
Across the nation, states canceled 17.3 million registrations from the 2016 presidential election through the 2018 midterms, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. A look at some states:
In New York, 1.2 million voters are currently on the inactive voting list.
In New Jersey, 430,000 are deemed inactive, meaning they either hadn't voted in recent presidential elections or their status as a registered voter is uncertain.
Georgia removed 300,000 registrations last year.
Wisconsin had a court battle over whether it must strip 200,000 names.
Voter purging can disenfranchise voters, particularly targeting communities of color, and can suppress totals across the nation, experts said.
It's a situation playing out in states, and in courtrooms, across the country. Voters can be purged from voting rolls, or removed erroneously, leaving them and poll workers confused on Election Day.
"Voter purges are an often-flawed process of cleaning up voter rolls by deleting names from registration lists," a 2018 report by New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice said. "Done badly, they can prevent eligible people from casting a ballot that counts." Was your voter registration purged? Why it might have been, and what you can do about it.
– Joseph Spector, Madeleine O'Neill, Terrence T. McDonald, Sarah Gamard and Candy Woodall
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that absentee ballots in Pennsylvania can be received up to three days beyond Election Day, setting a precedent that could apply to some other states. A shorthanded court split 4-4 on the decision, and because of the tie, the lower court ruling by the Pennsylvania state Supreme Court stands. That court had ruled in favor of a three-day extension.
The justices' order establishes the ground rules for mail-in voting in one of the nation's key battleground states, where President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden are fighting hard for its 20 electoral votes. The ruling could have an impact in other states where the deadline for mail-in ballots has been the subject of court battles, including Michigan, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Georgia, Indiana and Montana.
Pennsylvania's Democratic Party initiated the legal action, urging state courts to extend the Nov. 3 ballot return deadline in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which presents risks for in-person voting. Republican Party and state Senate leaders asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block the state court's ruling as a violation of federal law, which sets Election Day as the first Tuesday in November. They also said the extension violates the Constitution. Read more here.
– Richard Wolf
A Memphis poll worker was fired Friday after election officials learned he had turned away voters who were wearing masks and T-shirts that said Black Lives Matter. “What he did was patently wrong and he was fired,” said Suzanne Thompson, spokeswoman for the election commission in Shelby County, Tennessee, where Memphis is located. State law prohibits people from wearing items with the name of a political party or candidate currently on the ballot while in a polling place, but statements like “Black Lives Matter” or “I Can’t Breathe” are not violations of that law.
– Katherine Burgess, Memphis Commercial Appeal
While President Donald Trump casts doubt on the legitimacy of the vote and refuses to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, Pentagon leaders have sought in varying degrees to shelter the military from the president's political battles.
Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been emphatic: Troops have no role in elections. His boss, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, told Congress the military will adhere to the Constitution. Concern about Election Day violence escalated after 14 men were charged in domestic terror plots, including a plan to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor of Michigan.
Intimidation at polling places by armed groups has the potential to be a serious problem in areas such as the Midwest, said Kenneth Mayer, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A private security firm has been recruiting former special operations troops to patrol polling sites on election day in Minnesota, the Washington Post reported. Though the law varies by state, any poll watchers typically have to be certified in advance.
Federal law prohibits the deployment of federal troops or law enforcement agents to polling places, according to the non-partisan Brennan Center for Justice. Read more here.
– Tom Vanden Brook
Contributing: The Associated Press


usatoday--2020-10-20--#StandUnited: Utah candidates for governor appear together in joint ads, call for civility

The two main opponents in Utah 's 2020 race for governor appear together in a pair of join ads released Monday calling for more civility in politics .
Lt. Gov .
Spencer Cox , a Republican , and Chris Peterson , a Democrat and law professor at the University of Utah , both posted two videos on their social media accounts asking viewers to `` show the country there 's a better way . ''
`` We can debate issues without degrading each others ' character , '' Peterson says in one ad .
`` We can disagree without hating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The two candidates are vying to succeed sitting Republican Gov .
Gary Herbert , who is leaving the position after spending a decade in office .
Cox , the sitting lieutenant governor , is broadly considered the favorite to win the race , with a recent Deseret news-Hinckley Institute of Politics poll placing him ahead by more than 20 points .
Peterson , who has worked at the federal level in jobs for the Department of Defense and helping to build the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau after the financial crisis of 2008 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first Democratic governor since 1986 .
More : Joe Biden has narrow lead over President Donald Trump in new Florida poll Cox and Peterson have been cordial throughout the campaign season .
During a recent debate , the two bumped elbows on stage afterward .
Calls for a more civil form of politics have been common across Utah in 2020 .
The state 's most well-known name in politics , Mitt Romney , declared the state of politics a `` vile , vituperative , hate-filled morass that is unbecoming of any free nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling for leaders on both sides of the aisle to tone down their rhetoric but taking particular issue with the conduct of President Donald Trump .
New in the polls Tuesday : Race narrows in North Carolina , Florida ; voters nationally favor Biden over Trump

From staff reports, The Spectrum & Daily News

#StandUnited: Utah candidates for governor appear together in joint ads, call for civility
The two main opponents in Utah's 2020 race for governor appear together in a pair of join ads released Monday calling for more civility in politics.
Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, and Chris Peterson, a Democrat and law professor at the University of Utah, both posted two videos on their social media accounts asking viewers to "show the country there's a better way."
"We can debate issues without degrading each others' character," Peterson says in one ad.
I’m not sure this has ever been done before...but as our national political dialogue continues to decline, my opponent @PetersonUtah and I decided to try something different. We can disagree without hating each other. Let’s make Utah an example to the nation. #StandUnited #utpol pic.twitter.com/Tkr2sDCYTB — Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) October 20, 2020
"We can disagree without hating each other," Cox replies.
The two candidates are vying to succeed sitting Republican Gov. Gary Herbert, who is leaving the position after spending a decade in office.
Cox, the sitting lieutenant governor, is broadly considered the favorite to win the race, with a recent Deseret news-Hinckley Institute of Politics poll placing him ahead by more than 20 points.
Peterson, who has worked at the federal level in jobs for the Department of Defense and helping to build the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau after the financial crisis of 2008, is running to be the state's first Democratic governor since 1986.
More: Joe Biden has narrow lead over President Donald Trump in new Florida poll
Cox and Peterson have been cordial throughout the campaign season. During a recent debate, the two bumped elbows on stage afterward.
Calls for a more civil form of politics have been common across Utah in 2020.
The state's most well-known name in politics, Mitt Romney, declared the state of politics a "vile, vituperative, hate-filled morass that is unbecoming of any free nation" in a tweet last week, calling for leaders on both sides of the aisle to tone down their rhetoric but taking particular issue with the conduct of President Donald Trump.
New in the polls Tuesday: Race narrows in North Carolina, Florida; voters nationally favor Biden over Trump


usatoday--2020-10-20--Is Biden bringing Black voters back to the polls? The answer could decide who wins North Carolina

FAYETTEVILLE , N.C. – Working as a radio DJ in Durham gives Brian Dawson unique insight into how his community feels at any particular moment .
Of late , the opinions voiced by callers -- most of whom like Dawson are Black -- tell him this election is different from the one four years ago .
“ We ’ re energy voters , and I don ’ t think the energy was there in 2016 , ” Dawson said while awaiting former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s visit to Durham on Sunday .
“ But I definitely feel more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter ) movement and the treatment of Blacks , people are starting to get fed up , and they ’ re starting to feel like the only way to enact a change is through the vote.
” Biden , the Democratic presidential nominee , should hope Dawson is correct .
In the 2016 election , Black voters in North Carolina overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump - by 80 percentage points according to some exit polls .
But fewer Black people voted in 2016 than had four years prior .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catawba College , found nearly 170,000 Black Democrats in North Carolina cast ballots in 2012 , but stayed home in 2016 .
Whether Biden can inspire these voters to come back to the polls could make a vital difference in whether he or President Trump claims North Carolina ’ s 15 electoral votes in a toss-up race .
Trump needs North Carolina in 2020 election , but the swing state is a toss-up With the first weekend of early voting in the books , more than 1.5 million North Carolinians have cast ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all registered voters .
This dwarfs voting levelsfrom this point in 2016 , when fewer than 500,000 people had voted early .
“ We ’ re in a whole new dynamic , ” Bitzer said .
While he noted intense voter enthusiasm from both political parties , Bitzer said it ’ s difficult to draw specific conclusions on turnout amid this year 's swell of early voting .
“ We ’ re trying to make comparisons that we normally would make but in a year that ’ s not normal , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , how do you compare a watermelon to a kiwi ?
” So far , Black voters have slightly outpaced their share of the electorate , with closer to one in four Black registered voters having mailed in ballots or voted in-person .
Absentee voting data shows a disproportionate number of Black voters ' mail-in ballots have been categorized as “ pending cure , ” which means those voters will still be able to have their votes counted once they fix a lack of witness signatures or other missing information .
In Asheville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hayes , who heads a community health nonprofit in the city .
“ Those that haven ’ t voted before are now asking questions to understand why their vote is important and understand how the system works , he said .
“ There ’ s a greater desire for people to get out and vote.
” Hayes , who has driven people in need of transportation to the polls this week , said the national movement for racial justice , sparked this year by the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both presidential candidates have tried to reach Black voters , with economics central to their messaging .
In September , Trump released a “ Platinum Plan ” which commits $ 500 million to support Black communities .
Trump also pledged to make Juneteenth , the day commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States , a national holiday .
Some recent polls indicate Trump has gained traction among young Black voters , perhaps somewhat denting Democrats ’ recent grip on the Black electorate .
Biden has paired his calls for social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to white supremicists with plans to give Black residents more economic opportunities by supporting more early education , school funding , and health care equality .
At his televised town hall last week , Biden said , “ In addition to dealing with a criminal justice system to make it fair , to make it more decent , we have to be able to put Black Americans in a position to gain wealth , to generate wealth.
” Still , no initiative in the world can give Democrats the same advantage among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Black candidate at the top of the ticket .
With President Barack Obama running for a second term , 75 % of North Carolina Black voters cast ballots in 2012 .
Black turnout dropped to 66 % when Hilary Clinton ran for president four years later .
“ When you have someone that looks like you , someone you can identify with , you ’ ll tend to look into their platforms more , ” said Brian Goings , who worked as a Democratic poll watcher in Durham this weekend .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are , ‘ I don ’ t know if I should vote because they ’ re going to do what they want to do anyway .
There ’ s nobody that looks like me , so they don ’ t understand the things that I go through.
’ ” Brian Gordon is the education and social issues reporter for the USA Today Network .
Reach him at bgordon @ gannett.com or on Twitter @ briansamuel92 .

Is Biden bringing Black voters back to the polls? The answer could decide who wins North Carolina No year is like 2020, but whether Black North Carolinians vote like they did in 2012 or 2016 could decide whether Trump or Biden claims the state.
Show Caption Hide Caption Biden town hall: Biden asked how he would support young Black voters Former Vice President Joe Biden was questioned by a young Black voter at his ABC town hall about what he can do differently than former presidents. USA TODAY
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Working as a radio DJ in Durham gives Brian Dawson unique insight into how his community feels at any particular moment. Of late, the opinions voiced by callers -- most of whom like Dawson are Black -- tell him this election is different from the one four years ago.
“We’re energy voters, and I don’t think the energy was there in 2016,” Dawson said while awaiting former Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Durham on Sunday. “But I definitely feel more energy this year. With the (Black Lives Matter) movement and the treatment of Blacks, people are starting to get fed up, and they’re starting to feel like the only way to enact a change is through the vote.”
Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, should hope Dawson is correct.
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
In the 2016 election, Black voters in North Carolina overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump - by 80 percentage points according to some exit polls. But fewer Black people voted in 2016 than had four years prior.
Michael Bitzer, a political scientist at Catawba College, found nearly 170,000 Black Democrats in North Carolina cast ballots in 2012, but stayed home in 2016.
Whether Biden can inspire these voters to come back to the polls could make a vital difference in whether he or President Trump claims North Carolina’s 15 electoral votes in a toss-up race.
More: Record turnout, low voter intimidation as NC opens early voting with a bang
Trump needs North Carolina in 2020 election, but the swing state is a toss-up
'A whole new dynamic'
With the first weekend of early voting in the books, more than 1.5 million North Carolinians have cast ballots this election -- one in five of all registered voters. This dwarfs voting levels from this point in 2016, when fewer than 500,000 people had voted early.
“We’re in a whole new dynamic,” Bitzer said.
While he noted intense voter enthusiasm from both political parties, Bitzer said it’s difficult to draw specific conclusions on turnout amid this year's swell of early voting.
“We’re trying to make comparisons that we normally would make but in a year that’s not normal,” he said. “It’s like, how do you compare a watermelon to a kiwi?”
So far, Black voters have slightly outpaced their share of the electorate, with closer to one in four Black registered voters having mailed in ballots or voted in-person. Absentee voting data shows a disproportionate number of Black voters' mail-in ballots have been categorized as “pending cure,” which means those voters will still be able to have their votes counted once they fix a lack of witness signatures or other missing information.
In Asheville, the Black turnout has heartened Michael Hayes, who heads a community health nonprofit in the city.
“Those that haven’t voted before are now asking questions to understand why their vote is important and understand how the system works, he said. “There’s a greater desire for people to get out and vote.”
Hayes, who has driven people in need of transportation to the polls this week, said the national movement for racial justice, sparked this year by the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, has propelled more people to vote.
More: 'An uphill battle': NC organizers work to energize Latino vote a month from election
More: NC mail-in ballot lawsuits: Signatures required, deadline extended then retracted
Trump and Biden court Black voters
Both presidential candidates have tried to reach Black voters, with economics central to their messaging.
In September, Trump released a “Platinum Plan” which commits $500 million to support Black communities. Trump also pledged to make Juneteenth, the day commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, a national holiday. Some recent polls indicate Trump has gained traction among young Black voters, perhaps somewhat denting Democrats’ recent grip on the Black electorate.
Biden has paired his calls for social justice and criticisms of Trump’s response to white supremicists with plans to give Black residents more economic opportunities by supporting more early education, school funding, and health care equality.
At his televised town hall last week, Biden said, “In addition to dealing with a criminal justice system to make it fair, to make it more decent, we have to be able to put Black Americans in a position to gain wealth, to generate wealth.”
Still, no initiative in the world can give Democrats the same advantage among Black voters they had in 2012: A Black candidate at the top of the ticket.
With President Barack Obama running for a second term, 75% of North Carolina Black voters cast ballots in 2012. Black turnout dropped to 66% when Hilary Clinton ran for president four years later.
“When you have someone that looks like you, someone you can identify with, you’ll tend to look into their platforms more,” said Brian Goings, who worked as a Democratic poll watcher in Durham this weekend.
“Speaking with younger voters, their responses are, ‘I don’t know if I should vote because they’re going to do what they want to do anyway. There’s nobody that looks like me, so they don’t understand the things that I go through.’”
Brian Gordon is the education and social issues reporter for the USA Today Network. Reach him at bgordon@gannett.com or on Twitter @briansamuel92.


usatoday--2020-10-20--Poll: President Trump leads Joe Biden in Kentucky by smaller margin than 2016 victory

LOUISVILLE – A new survey by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy shows President Donald Trump leading his Democratic challenger Joe Biden in Kentucky , though by a much smaller margin than his victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
The Mason-Dixon poll of 625 registered and likely voters in Kentucky last week found 56 % supporting the president 's reelection and 39 % backing Biden , with 4 % undecided .
While substantial , Trump 's lead of 17 percentage points over Biden would be significantly less than his 2016 win — even if all undecided voters swung his way — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote in Kentucky that year to Clinton 's 32.7 % .
Mason-Dixon , which has polled Kentucky races for over 30 years , was remarkably accurate in its survey of the state weeks before the 2019 race for governor , finding former Gov .
Matt Bevin and current Gov .
Andy Beshear locked in a statistical tie .
Beshear would go on to win the race for governor by a fraction of a percent , with 5,146 more votes than Bevin .
For more : Is the pandemic denting Kentucky voters ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll found Trump handily leading Biden among most demographics in Kentucky , though struggling more with younger voters and women — a recurring theme from most polling of the race around the country .
While the survey showed him leading Biden by roughly 20 percentage points among voters more than 34 years old , Trump trailed Biden by 14 percentage points in the younger demographic .
Trump leads Biden among men in the Kentucky poll by a 59 % to 36 % margin , though he leads among women by only 10 percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respondents to the poll indicated they would vote for Trump — well above the 67 % of Democrats supporting Biden — while Independents favored the president 50 % to 39 % .
The Mason-Dixon poll also found Trump doubling the support of Biden in Eastern and Western Kentucky counties , up by more than 20 percentage points in Northern Kentucky and with a small lead in 19 counties within central Kentucky .
The one region where Trump trails is in Louisville and its seven surrounding counties , as Biden leads him 55 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , Trump actually won slightly more votes than Clinton in these same eight counties .
The poll shows Trump faring worse against Biden in each of the five Kentucky regions compared to his 2016 showing , with the most pronounced difference in Eastern Kentucky , where his 38 percentage point lead over Biden is less than his remarkable 60 percentage point blowout over Clinton in that region .
Mason-Dixon 's 2019 polling of Kentucky 's race for governor was also on target for how Beshear and Bevin would perform regionally , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five percentage points of the actual results in each of the five regions .
For subscribers : Will we know who won Kentucky races on election night ?
Results to come faster than primary National pollsters Quinnipiac University and Data for Progress both had surveys in September showing Trump leading Biden by 20 percentage points in Kentucky .
Most national and state polling shows Biden to be the favorite to win the popular vote and electoral vote count over Trump , with just two weeks until the election and much of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to release more results from their polling in Kentucky later this week , including the U.S. Senate race between Mitch McConnell and Amy McGrath and approval ratings for Beshear and Attorney General Daniel Cameron .
Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka @ courierjournal.com or 502-582-4472 and follow him on Twitter at @ joesonka .
Support strong local journalism by subscribing today : courierjournal.com/subscribe .

Poll: President Trump leads Joe Biden in Kentucky by smaller margin than 2016 victory
Show Caption Hide Caption Despite polls, Trump predicts a 'red wave' Nov. 3 Speaking at a rally in North Carolina on the first day of early in-person voting, President Donald Trump predicted a “big, beautiful red wave” on Election Night, ignoring the multiple national polls that show him trailing to rival Joe Biden. (Oct. 15) AP
LOUISVILLE – A new survey by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy shows President Donald Trump leading his Democratic challenger Joe Biden in Kentucky, though by a much smaller margin than his victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016.
The Mason-Dixon poll of 625 registered and likely voters in Kentucky last week found 56% supporting the president's reelection and 39% backing Biden, with 4% undecided.
While substantial, Trump's lead of 17 percentage points over Biden would be significantly less than his 2016 win — even if all undecided voters swung his way — as he picked up 62.5% of the vote in Kentucky that year to Clinton's 32.7%.
Mason-Dixon, which has polled Kentucky races for over 30 years, was remarkably accurate in its survey of the state weeks before the 2019 race for governor, finding former Gov. Matt Bevin and current Gov. Andy Beshear locked in a statistical tie.
Beshear would go on to win the race for governor by a fraction of a percent, with 5,146 more votes than Bevin.
For more: Is the pandemic denting Kentucky voters' support for Trump?
The new Mason-Dixon poll found Trump handily leading Biden among most demographics in Kentucky, though struggling more with younger voters and women — a recurring theme from most polling of the race around the country.
While the survey showed him leading Biden by roughly 20 percentage points among voters more than 34 years old, Trump trailed Biden by 14 percentage points in the younger demographic.
Trump leads Biden among men in the Kentucky poll by a 59% to 36% margin, though he leads among women by only 10 percentage points.
Nearly 90% of Republican respondents to the poll indicated they would vote for Trump — well above the 67% of Democrats supporting Biden — while Independents favored the president 50% to 39%.
The Mason-Dixon poll also found Trump doubling the support of Biden in Eastern and Western Kentucky counties, up by more than 20 percentage points in Northern Kentucky and with a small lead in 19 counties within central Kentucky.
The one region where Trump trails is in Louisville and its seven surrounding counties, as Biden leads him 55% to 41%. In the 2016 election, Trump actually won slightly more votes than Clinton in these same eight counties.
The poll shows Trump faring worse against Biden in each of the five Kentucky regions compared to his 2016 showing, with the most pronounced difference in Eastern Kentucky, where his 38 percentage point lead over Biden is less than his remarkable 60 percentage point blowout over Clinton in that region.
Mason-Dixon's 2019 polling of Kentucky's race for governor was also on target for how Beshear and Bevin would perform regionally, with the margin between the candidates coming within five percentage points of the actual results in each of the five regions.
For subscribers: Will we know who won Kentucky races on election night? Results to come faster than primary
National pollsters Quinnipiac University and Data for Progress both had surveys in September showing Trump leading Biden by 20 percentage points in Kentucky.
Most national and state polling shows Biden to be the favorite to win the popular vote and electoral vote count over Trump, with just two weeks until the election and much of the country already voting early.
Mason-Dixon is expected to release more results from their polling in Kentucky later this week, including the U.S. Senate race between Mitch McConnell and Amy McGrath and approval ratings for Beshear and Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com or 502-582-4472 and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courierjournal.com/subscribe.


usatoday--2020-10-20--Americans want their vote to count. Here's what voters need to know about their rights

The Carter Center has monitored elections in some of the world ’ s most dangerous and corrupt countries — Sudan , Kenya and Venezuela among 39 countries in all .
Now , the not-for-profit organization founded by former President Jimmy Carter is adding to that list of countries once seen as a model for fair and free elections .
Avery Davis-Roberts , associate director in the Democracy Program at the Carter Center , said in recently taped remarks , “ we typically prioritize work in places where democracy seems poised to take a step forward or where it 's in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are often struggling with polarization , a lack of public trust , ethnic or racial divisions and fears that election results won ’ t be credible or accepted .
“ U.S .
elections have never been perfect , but generally Americans trusted in the process and believed in the results .
But in the last five or 10 years , we ’ ve started to see many of the same discouraging trends we see in countries where we work.
’ ’ As the Nov. 3 election approaches , with President Donald Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the fear and cynicism among American voters is undeniable .
More than half of 1,505 registered voters surveyed in a YouGov poll Oct. 1-2 said they expect to see `` an increase in violence as a result of the election.
” Another YouGov poll found that almost half of voters disagree with the idea that the election `` is likely to be fair and honest . ''
Amidst that uneasy climate , voter knowledge is key , said Stephanie Young , Chief Communications and Culture Officer at “ When We All Vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to increasing voter participation .
“ An informed voter is a voter whose vote is most likely not to be suppressed because they understand their rights , ’ ’ Young said .
Here are the rights voters have at the polls : The Right to Vote Free of Intimidation Federal law prohibits the intimidation of voters and can result in prison time .
Check it out : 18 U.S. Code Section 594 .
The law states : “ Whoever intimidates , threatens , coerces , or attempts to intimidate , threaten , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose….shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year , or both.
’ ’ Yet the law hasn ’ t always stopped voter intimidation .
In 1981 , for example , the Republican National Committee ( RNC ) targeted a tight race for New Jersey governor .
The RNC created the “ National Ballot Security Task Force , ’ ’ comprised of off-duty police and sheriffs officers and deployed to deployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Latinos .
The stated purpose of the so-called task force was to prevent voter fraud .
The outcome : discouraging Democrats from going to the polls on a day when the Republican and the gubernatorial candidate prevailed by 1,797 votes out of 2.3 million cast .
More : 'The country ’ s lost its mind ' : Polls warning of civil war , violence show deep partisan chasm over election But Julie Ebenstein , a senior staff attorney for the ACLU ’ s Voting Rights Project , said there ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intimidation , which would include being questioned about citizenship , criminal record or other qualifications .
“ Obviously people are concerned about this election and that ’ s understandable , ’ ’ Ebenstein said .
“ But at least over the last decade , I can ’ t think of effective or organized efforts that were carried out to keep people away from the polls .
It would be a shame for people to assume there was going to be something like that and stay away out of intimidation.
’ ’ Voters who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE ( 866-687-8683 ) , or the U.S. Department of Justice voting rights hotline at 1-800-253-3931 , or , if threatened by violence , 911 .
The right to vote by provisional ballot if your name is not on the list of registered voters If you show up to the polls and your name is not on the list of registered voters , you have the right to vote with a provisional ballot .
The ballot should be counted when officials confirm you are a registered voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote elsewhere .
“ Sometimes people show up and find their names are not on the rolls , ’ ’ said Kristen Clarke , president and executive director of the National Lawyers ' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law .
“ They may have been unlawfully purged .
Or removed from rolls .
Or there may have been an error on the part of officials who failed to include a voters ’ name on the rolls.
’ ’ It happens .
More than you might think .
During the 2016 presidential election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were cast and 71 percent were counted either partially or in full , according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission .
So before heading to the polls , it never hurts to make sure you ’ re registered to vote and confirm your polling site .
The right to vote with accommodations “ People with intellectual or mental health disabilities have been prevented from voting because of prejudicial assumptions about their capabilities , ’ ’ U.S. Department of Justice has written .
“ People who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enter the polling place to cast their ballot because there was no ramp .
People who are blind or have low vision could not cast their vote because the ballot was completely inaccessible to them.
’ ’ Efforts to protect the voting rights of people with disabilities has led to accessible polling places that meet the American Disabilities Act ( ADA ) requirements and “ curbside voting.
’ ’ Any voter unable to reach the polling site because of physical limitations or architectural barriers may request a ballot “ curbside.
’ ’ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a voting device to the voter and , if necessary , assists the voter .
But not everyone is in favor of this accommodation .
More:30 years after the ADA , access to voting for people with disabilities is still an issue The state of Alabama is challenging that right .
On Oct. 15 , state officials asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block a lower court order allowing curbside voting .
Voters with disabilities can report complaints and possible violations of the federal voting rights laws to Civil Rights Division ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 202-307-2767 .
Another protected accommodation : Voters who struggle with English can bring a family member or friend — but not an employer — to help them fill out and cast a ballot .
There also are toll-free numbers for assistance in Spanish ( 1-888-839-8682 ) , Arabic ( 1-844-925-5287 ) and Bengali , Catonese , Hindu , Urdu , Korean , Mandarin , Tagalog and Vietnamese at 888-274-8683 .
Ballots are available in a variety of languages and , according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner , federal law requires more 260 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistance The right to vote after the polls close If you ’ re in line when a polling place closes and you still want to vote , stay put .
“ It doesn ’ t matter if that line is stretching for hours or blocks , ’ ’ said Clarke of the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law .
“ As long as you ’ re in line when the polls close , you have a right to vote.
’ ’ 6 .
The right to re-Vote If you make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate or voting or more than one person for a single office , ask a pollster for help .
Replacement ballots are available .
While there is no mention of a Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ) in voting rights law , Clara Long of the Human Rights Watch said she thinks PPE should be available at the polling places in light of the ongoing pandemic .
“ Authorities , local and federal , have the responsibility to protect people ’ s right to health as well as their right to vote , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that means providing PPE at the polls for people who don ’ t have it .
And people should be asking for that if they don ’ t have it .
“ Voters have the right to have their access to the vote facilitated .
Facilitating the vote is part of the obligation that the U.S. has under a human rights framework that it ’ s actually been a leader in developing globally in terms how elections should be held.
’ ’ More : Who 's undecided ?
Donald Trump 's toughest hurdle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minds are made up But this year , talk often circles back to the fear of voter intimidation .
Long applauded the recent decision by Michigan officials to prohibit people from openly carrying guns within of 100 feet of buildings with polling places on Election Day .
But she expressed uncertainty about what will transpire across the country on Election Day .
“ The question is what is enforcement going to look like ?
’ ’ she said .
“ Are states and local authorities going to scrupulously enforce voters rights ?
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter .

Know your voting rights: Here's what to do if you encounter intimidation at the polls on Election Day
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
Correction & clarification: A prior version of this story misstated the term for the Hindi language.
The Carter Center has monitored elections in some of the world’s most dangerous and corrupt countries – Sudan, Kenya and Venezuela among 39 countries in all. Now, the not-for-profit organization founded by former President Jimmy Carter is adding to that list of countries once seen as a model for fair and free elections.
The United States.
Avery Davis-Roberts, associate director in the Democracy Program at the Carter Center, said in recently taped remarks, “we typically prioritize work in places where democracy seems poised to take a step forward or where it's in danger of sliding backwards. These places are often struggling with polarization, a lack of public trust, ethnic or racial divisions and fears that election results won’t be credible or accepted.
“U.S. elections have never been perfect, but generally Americans trusted in the process and believed in the results. But in the last five or 10 years, we’ve started to see many of the same discouraging trends we see in countries where we work.’’
Read this: How election officials are preparing for voter intimidation tactics
As the Nov. 3 election approaches, with President Donald Trump and Joe Biden battling on the campaign trail, the fear and cynicism among American voters is undeniable.
More than half of 1,505 registered voters surveyed in a YouGov poll Oct. 1-2 said they expect to see "an increase in violence as a result of the election.” Another YouGov poll found that almost half of voters disagree with the idea that the election "is likely to be fair and honest."
Amidst that uneasy climate, voter knowledge is key, said Stephanie Young, Chief Communications and Culture Officer at “When We All Vote,’’ a nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing voter participation.
“An informed voter is a voter whose vote is most likely not to be suppressed because they understand their rights,’’ Young said.
Here are the rights voters have at the polls:
The Right to Vote Free of Intimidation
Federal law prohibits the intimidation of voters and can result in prison time. Check it out: 18 U.S. Code Section 594.
The law states: “Whoever intimidates, threatens, coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose ... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.’’
Yet the law hasn’t always stopped voter intimidation.
In 1981, for example, the Republican National Committee targeted a tight race for New Jersey governor. The RNC created the “National Ballot Security Task Force,’’ composed of off-duty police and sheriffs officers and deployed to voting precincts heavily populated by Blacks and Latinos.
The stated purpose of the task force was to prevent voter fraud. The outcome: discouraging Democrats from going to the polls on a day when the Republican and the gubernatorial candidate prevailed by 1,797 votes out of 2.3 million cast.
But Julie Ebenstein, a senior staff attorney for the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, said there’s no recent history of widespread efforts of voter intimidation, which would include being questioned about citizenship, criminal record or other qualifications.
“Obviously people are concerned about this election and that’s understandable,’’ Ebenstein said. “But at least over the last decade, I can’t think of effective or organized efforts that were carried out to keep people away from the polls. It would be a shame for people to assume there was going to be something like that and stay away out of intimidation.’’
Voters who encounter or witness intimidation are encouraged to call the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), or the U.S. Department of Justice voting rights hotline at 1-800-253-3931, or, if threatened by violence, 911.
More: Voter turnout in election could reach highest rate in more than a century
'The country's lost its mind': Polls warning of civil war, violence show deep partisan chasm over election
The right to vote by provisional ballot if your name is not on the list of registered voters
If you show up to the polls and your name is not on the list of registered voters, you have the right to vote with a provisional ballot. The ballot should be counted when officials confirm you are a registered voter in that county and you did not vote elsewhere.
“Sometimes people show up and find their names are not on the rolls,’’ said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the National Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “They may have been unlawfully purged. Or removed from rolls. Or there may have been an error on the part of officials who failed to include a voters’ name on the rolls.’’
It happens. More than you might think.
During the 2016 presidential election, for example, 2.4 million provisional ballots were cast and 71% were counted either partially or in full, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
So before heading to the polls, it never hurts to make sure you’re registered to vote and confirm your polling site.
The right to vote with accommodations
“People with intellectual or mental health disabilities have been prevented from voting because of prejudicial assumptions about their capabilities,’’ U.S. Department of Justice has written. “People who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids, such as walkers, have been unable to enter the polling place to cast their ballot because there was no ramp. People who are blind or have low vision could not cast their vote because the ballot was completely inaccessible to them.’’
Efforts to protect the voting rights of people with disabilities has led to accessible polling places that meet the American Disabilities Act requirements and “curbside voting.’’
Any voter unable to reach the polling site because of physical limitations or architectural barriers may request a ballot “curbside.’’ A polling site worker brings a ballot or a voting device to the voter and, if necessary, assists the voter. But not everyone is in favor of this accommodation.
More: 30 years after the ADA, access to voting for people with disabilities is still an issue
The state of Alabama is challenging that right. On Oct. 15, state officials asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block a lower court order allowing curbside voting.
Voters with disabilities can report complaints and possible violations of the federal voting rights laws to Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington at 1-800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767.
Another protected accommodation: Voters who struggle with English can bring a family member or friend – but not an employer – to help them fill out and cast a ballot.
There also are toll-free numbers for assistance in Spanish (1-888-839-8682), Arabic (1-844-925-5287) and Bengali, Catonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog and Vietnamese at 888-274-8683.
Ballots are available in a variety of languages and, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner, federal law requires more 260 jurisdictions to provide some type of language assistance.
The right to vote after the polls close
If you’re in line when a polling place closes and you still want to vote, stay put.
“It doesn’t matter if that line is stretching for hours or blocks,’’ said Clarke of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “As long as you’re in line when the polls close, you have a right to vote.’’
The right to revote
If you make a mistake, like voting for the unintended candidate or voting for more than one person for a single office, ask a pollster for help. Replacement ballots are available.
While there is no mention of a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in voting rights law, Clara Long of the Human Rights Watch said she thinks PPE should be available at the polling places in light of the ongoing pandemic.
“Authorities, local and federal, have the responsibility to protect people’s right to health as well as their right to vote,’’ Long said. “So that means providing PPE at the polls for people who don’t have it. And people should be asking for that if they don’t have it.
“Voters have the right to have their access to the vote facilitated. Facilitating the vote is part of the obligation that the U.S. has under a human rights framework that it’s actually been a leader in developing globally in terms how elections should be held.’’
But this year, talk often circles back to the fear of voter intimidation.
Long applauded the recent decision by Michigan officials to prohibit people from openly carrying guns within of 100 feet of buildings with polling places on Election Day. But she expressed uncertainty about what will transpire across the country on Election Day.
“The question is what is enforcement going to look like?’’ she said. “Are states and local authorities going to scrupulously enforce voters rights?’’
For more follow @JoshPeter11 on Twitter.
Who's undecided? Donald Trump's toughest hurdle to pull off a win: Most minds are made up
'A lot of chaos': 'A lot of chaos': Trump's rhetoric, a global pandemic and a tsunami of lawsuits complicate 2020 election


usatoday--2020-10-20--North Carolina voters nearly split on Trump and Biden; Cunningham has slight edge on Tillis, poll fi

Democratic nominee Joe Biden and President Donald Trump are nearly tied in North Carolina only two weeks from Election Day , according to a new ABC/Washington Post poll .
Biden has the support of 49 % of likely North Carolina voters while Trump has the support of 48 % of likely voters .
The presidential race isn ’ t the only thing split in North Carolina .
The U.S. Senate race tight between incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis , R-N.C. , and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham .
Cunningham leads Tillis by a small margin with support of 49 % of likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
Cunningham has remained competitive in the race despite revelations earlier this year about sexual messages he sent to a California strategist .
More : The week in polls : Trump roars back in Florida , Biden gains in Georgia The poll finds Biden doing better with moderate voters than former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton did in 2016 .
Sixty-four percent of moderate voters support Biden while only 30 % support Trump – a 34-point lead , larger than Clinton ’ s 20-point edge .
While Biden leads with moderates as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of white evangelical Protestants support Trump compared to 17 % supporting Biden .
Trump also leads among rural voters , the poll found .
The majority of likely voters trust Biden to handle the coronavirus and disapprove of how Trump is handling the pandemic .
Only 45 % of likely voters said they trust Trump to handle the coronavirus compared to the 51 % that say that of Biden .
More : Trump 's abrasive debate behavior may have worsened his relationship with female voters Voters still have a positive view of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of likely voters approving of the way he is handling the economy and 52 % of them preferring Trump to handle it over Biden .
North Carolina Independents and college graduates are two groups that the poll found to have significantly shifted from 2016 .
Independents largely supported Trump over Clinton ( 53 % -37 % ) but are now almost evenly split between Biden and Trump ( 47 % -46 % ) .
The opposite occurred among college graduates , with the group being split 49 % -48 % in 2016 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shifted to Biden over Trump ( 60 % -38 % ) .
Although Biden leads among college educated voters , 65 % of likely voters don ’ t have college degrees .
Among non-college graduates , non-college whites is a large group for Trump with 67 % backing Trump over the 27 % for Biden .
Since 1968 , North Carolina has gone for the Republican candidate in every presidential election except for two – for former Presidents Barack Obama in 2008 and Jimmy Carter in 1976 .
Trump beat Clinton by 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 15 electoral votes in the 2016 election .
The poll was conducted Oct.12-17 among 706 registered voters and 646 likely voters in North Carolina .
The margin of error is plus/minus 4.5 percentage points .

North Carolina voters nearly split on Trump and Biden; Cunningham has slight edge on Tillis, poll finds
Show Caption Hide Caption Election 2020: Mics will be muted for portions of presidential debate President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will have their microphones cut off during portions of the final presidential debate. USA TODAY
Democratic nominee Joe Biden and President Donald Trump are nearly tied in North Carolina only two weeks from Election Day, according to a new ABC/Washington Post poll.
Biden has the support of 49% of likely North Carolina voters while Trump has the support of 48% of likely voters.
The presidential race isn’t the only thing split in North Carolina. The U.S. Senate race tight between incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham.
Cunningham leads Tillis by a small margin with support of 49% of likely voters while Tillis is supported by 47%. Cunningham has remained competitive in the race despite revelations earlier this year about sexual messages he sent to a California strategist.
More: The week in polls: Trump roars back in Florida, Biden gains in Georgia
The poll finds Biden doing better with moderate voters than former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton did in 2016. Sixty-four percent of moderate voters support Biden while only 30% support Trump – a 34-point lead, larger than Clinton’s 20-point edge.
While Biden leads with moderates as well as Raleigh-Durham residents, 82% of white evangelical Protestants support Trump compared to 17% supporting Biden. Trump also leads among rural voters, the poll found.
The majority of likely voters trust Biden to handle the coronavirus and disapprove of how Trump is handling the pandemic. Only 45% of likely voters said they trust Trump to handle the coronavirus compared to the 51% that say that of Biden.
More: Trump's abrasive debate behavior may have worsened his relationship with female voters
Voters still have a positive view of Trump and the economy, with 54% of likely voters approving of the way he is handling the economy and 52% of them preferring Trump to handle it over Biden.
North Carolina Independents and college graduates are two groups that the poll found to have significantly shifted from 2016. Independents largely supported Trump over Clinton (53%-37%) but are now almost evenly split between Biden and Trump (47%-46%).
The opposite occurred among college graduates, with the group being split 49%-48% in 2016. The poll found college graduates have dramatically shifted to Biden over Trump (60%-38%).
More: Joe Biden campaigns in North Carolina
Although Biden leads among college educated voters, 65% of likely voters don’t have college degrees. Among non-college graduates, non-college whites is a large group for Trump with 67% backing Trump over the 27% for Biden.
Since 1968, North Carolina has gone for the Republican candidate in every presidential election except for two – for former Presidents Barack Obama in 2008 and Jimmy Carter in 1976.
Trump beat Clinton by 3 percentage points – winning the state’s 15 electoral votes in the 2016 election.
The poll was conducted Oct.12-17 among 706 registered voters and 646 likely voters in North Carolina. The margin of error is plus/minus 4.5 percentage points.


usatoday--2020-10-20--Microphones will be muted for portions of final presidential debate

Microphones will be muted for portions of final presidential debate President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will have @ @ @ @ @ portions of the final presidential debate .

Election 2020: Mics will be muted for portions of presidential debate
President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will have their microphones cut off during portions of the final presidential debate.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-10-20--Government agency will investigate Trump administration political influence over FDA, CDC

WASHINGTON – An independent government watchdog agency has agreed to investigate alleged political influence from the Trump administration over the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration .
The Government Accountability Office , an independent legislative agency that investigates , audits and evaluates government operations for Congress , accepted a Senate request on Monday to examine potential political interference and `` determine whether this interference has violated the agencies ’ scientific integrity and communication policies.
” '' We expect the work will start in January , as staff who cover those issues become available , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GAO , told USA TODAY .
More : Trump slammed China for COVID-19 'secrecy ' ; critics slam White House for lack of transparency Both agencies have been caught in political crossfire since the start of the pandemic , as preventative health measures such as mask-wearing , social distancing and the effectiveness of different drugs in combating the COVID-19 outbreak have become politicized .
President Donald Trump and others in the administration have publicly contradicted health experts at both agencies on such issues , hurting the agencies ' credibility .
Fact check : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incorrectly in misleading claims The GOA move comes after Democratic Sens .
Patty Murray , Gary Peters and Elizabeth Warren wrote a letter asking the agency to `` determine whether the CDC and FDA ’ s scientific integrity and communications policies have been violated '' amidst the coronavirus pandemic .
The senators requested the investigation earlier this month following reports of political meddling in the coronavirus response at both the FDC and CDC , including a report by the New York Times found that the White House blocked new coronavirus vaccine guidelines for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine is coming `` momentarily '' and would be ready for distribution in time for Election Day , despite health officials saying publicly that is unlikely .
More : A COVID-19 vaccine by Election Day ?
Here are the 3 things that would need to happen , and soon .
In June , the FDA revoked its emergency authorization for hydroxychloroquine , a controversial malaria drug , after Trump had called for and promoted it despite little evidence of success .
The agency said the drug posed a greater risk to patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House appointees have reportedly interfered with basic national public health reports and information coming out of the agencies when it conflicted with Trump 's coronavirus messaging .
`` The CDC and FDA ’ s independence as scientific agencies is crucial to safeguarding the public health and saving lives .
These agencies must be able to develop , review , and disseminate public health data , guidelines , and other information that are based on science , facts , and medical principles – and not the political imperatives and moods of a president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in their request .
In early October , a House Oversight subcommittee also opened its own investigation into potential political interference around coronavirus messaging .
The subcommittee took particular aim at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs , a subagency within the Executive Office of the President .
Fact check : CDC report does n't show mask-wearers more likely to contract COVID-19 “ We are concerned the process lacks clear structure , gives undue weight to the opinions of non-expert political appointees , weakens guidance , and delays its publication , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy , said in a press release .
Since the start of the pandemic , the CDC and FDA have been under fire for purportedly mixed messaging on social distancing , mask-wearing and reported COVID-19 statistics .
`` The GAO 's decision to conduct an independent audit is a good first step towards making sure that guidance coming from federal agencies is based on science and facts , not on the Trump Administration 's political agenda or the President 's whims , '' the senators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` Health and science experts should be able to do their jobs to steer us through crises like this pandemic without political interference , and we must ensure that the American people receive fact-based information so that they can make well-informed decisions for themselves and their families amidst this national public health emergency . ''
The GAO said the investigation is expected to take approximately three months .

Savannah Behrmann and Matthew Brown, USA TODAY

Government agency will investigate Trump administration political influence over FDA, CDC
Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump contradicts CDC director about face masks and vaccines CDC Director Robert Redfield testified at a Senate panel on coronavirus and gave his opinion on face masks, but then President Trump contradicted him. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – An independent government watchdog agency has agreed to investigate alleged political influence from the Trump administration over the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.
The Government Accountability Office, an independent legislative agency that investigates, audits and evaluates government operations for Congress, accepted a Senate request on Monday to examine potential political interference and "determine whether this interference has violated the agencies’ scientific integrity and communication policies.”
"We expect the work will start in January, as staff who cover those issues become available," Charles Young, a spokesman for GAO, told USA TODAY.
More: Trump slammed China for COVID-19 'secrecy'; critics slam White House for lack of transparency
Both agencies have been caught in political crossfire since the start of the pandemic, as preventative health measures such as mask-wearing, social distancing and the effectiveness of different drugs in combating the COVID-19 outbreak have become politicized.
President Donald Trump and others in the administration have publicly contradicted health experts at both agencies on such issues, hurting the agencies' credibility.
Fact check: CDC's data on COVID-19 deaths used incorrectly in misleading claims
The GOA move comes after Democratic Sens. Patty Murray, Gary Peters and Elizabeth Warren wrote a letter asking the agency to "determine whether the CDC and FDA’s scientific integrity and communications policies have been violated" amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
The senators requested the investigation earlier this month following reports of political meddling in the coronavirus response at both the FDC and CDC, including a report by the New York Times found that the White House blocked new coronavirus vaccine guidelines for non-scientific reasons.
Trump repeatedly has stated a vaccine is coming "momentarily" and would be ready for distribution in time for Election Day, despite health officials saying publicly that is unlikely.
More: A COVID-19 vaccine by Election Day? Here are the 3 things that would need to happen, and soon.
In June, the FDA revoked its emergency authorization for hydroxychloroquine, a controversial malaria drug, after Trump had called for and promoted it despite little evidence of success. The agency said the drug posed a greater risk to patients than any potential benefits.
Additionally, White House appointees have reportedly interfered with basic national public health reports and information coming out of the agencies when it conflicted with Trump's coronavirus messaging.
"The CDC and FDA’s independence as scientific agencies is crucial to safeguarding the public health and saving lives. These agencies must be able to develop, review, and disseminate public health data, guidelines, and other information that are based on science, facts, and medical principles – and not the political imperatives and moods of a president and his advisors," the Democrats said in their request.
In early October, a House Oversight subcommittee also opened its own investigation into potential political interference around coronavirus messaging.
The subcommittee took particular aim at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, a subagency within the Executive Office of the President.
Fact check: CDC report doesn't show mask-wearers more likely to contract COVID-19
“We are concerned the process lacks clear structure, gives undue weight to the opinions of non-expert political appointees, weakens guidance, and delays its publication,” Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illin., Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, said in a press release.
Since the start of the pandemic, the CDC and FDA have been under fire for purportedly mixed messaging on social distancing, mask-wearing and reported COVID-19 statistics.
More: How the CDC failed public health officials fighting the coronavirus
"The GAO's decision to conduct an independent audit is a good first step towards making sure that guidance coming from federal agencies is based on science and facts, not on the Trump Administration's political agenda or the President's whims," the senators said in a statement.
They continued, "Health and science experts should be able to do their jobs to steer us through crises like this pandemic without political interference, and we must ensure that the American people receive fact-based information so that they can make well-informed decisions for themselves and their families amidst this national public health emergency."
The GAO said the investigation is expected to take approximately three months.