Two GOP candidates in Michigan state races told a crowd of supporters to unplug voting machines if they suspect fraud, and bring guns to polling places to make sure Republicans are allowed to observe ballot counting. They are Ryan Kelley, running for governor, and Mike Detmer, running for state senate. That’s illegal and anyone following their advice could face criminal prosecution.
After the 2020 election, a rowdy mob of Trump supporters swarmed the Detroit election office (watch video here). This wasn’t about keeping out Republican observers; observers of both parties were allowed in. Nor was it about observing the ballot counting; the mob was chanting “Stop the count!” and that’s what they were there to do. It was Detmer who told listeners to bring guns to polling places — which is illegal in MIchigan — and implied they should use them in similar circumstances in the future.
That may cost him; Michigan’s secretary of state has asked for a law enforcement investigation. Meanwhile, if you want to be a pollwatcher, sign up and take the training, get your credentials, then follow the rules when you get there. (Observers can only watch; they’re not allowed to talk to election workers or touch ballots.) As for Kelley’s suggestion of unplugging voting machines, that’s election tampering, a crime.
What’s really disturbing about these guys is they’re telling a potential mob to take the law into their own hands. Of course they shouldn’t be elected to public office, if they can’t do any better than this. But more to the point, with Republican candidates giving “advice” like that to their supporters, it may be necessary to station National Guard troops at polling places and election offices to keep the angry, lawless mobs of morons at bay.
Read story here, watch them on video here or below.
