A sign posted outside the Kosciusko County Justice Building in Warsaw last week during early voting. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – Election officials will be watching for any signs of election interference as voters head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3.

President Donald Trump’s repeated call for supporters to watch polling activity has led to some concern over whether people will try to serve as unauthorized poll watchers across the nation.

Concerns have been amped up in recent days as Trump continues to repeatedly predict the election will be rigged against him.

Locally, officials say they are not aware of any problems but are ready.

According to Indiana law, electioneering within 50 feet of the room where voting machines are located is forbidden. The only ones allowed inside polling places – other than those voting – are certified election workers and those with media credentials.

While electioneering – the act of openly supporting candidates – beyond the designated areas is allowed, election officials will be watching for signs of intimidation, said Kosciusko County Clerk Ann Torpy, who is a member of the county election board.

“If those that are loitering are harassing and intimidating voters, we have instructed our poll workers to contact the sheriff’s office to ask for assistance,” Torpy said. “I have provided our sheriff’s office with addresses to all polling locations.”

In numerous cities across the country, some business owners have been boarding up storefronts in anticipation of possible post-election unrest. While that certainly is not the case in Kosciusko County, police say they are ready nonetheless.

Numerous rallies in Warsaw have remained overwhelmingly peaceful, but Warsaw police have responded to a handful of calls in recent weeks as supporters of Trump have been confronted by those with different opinions.

InkFreeNews checked with two police departments about plans for Election Day.

Warsaw Police Department information officer Brad Kellar said they have not received “any specific concerns or intelligence” of problems associated with Election Day.  It will be “operations as normal,” he said.

He also said police are well prepared.

“Our Emergency Response Team is always on call.  We train and strategize for a plethora of possibilities in and around our city, including civil unrest,” Kellar said in an email. “We also have good working relationships with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana State Police. With all of that in mind, I am confident we are well prepared as we enter into (Election Day).”

Chris Francis, PIO for the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, echoed similar thoughts.

“We have not received any information locally regarding threats, etc. We will promptly respond to any incidents that occur at a polling location,” Francis said in an email.