Lara Trump recruits GOP ballot watchers in Pennsylvania in election-integrity push: ‘If somebody desires to cheat, they’ll discover a approach’

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Lara Trump recruits GOP ballot watchers in Pennsylvania in election-integrity push: ‘If somebody desires to cheat, they’ll discover a approach’


NEWTOWN, Pa. — Republican Nationwide Committee co-chair Lara Trump — spouse of Eric Trump and daughter-in-law to the previous president — and different officers stumped for election integrity in Pennsylvania Tuesday afternoon, with even attendees telling The Put up they plan to vote by mail.

“We need to have a military of individuals throughout this nation — 100,000 individuals sturdy — to make sure integrity in our elections,” Trump instructed the standing-room-only crowd in Newtown, Bucks County.

Trump stopped in Pennsylvania as a part of the RNC’s “Shield The Vote Tour,” which opened in Michigan Friday and can proceed as the social gathering seeks to coach ballot watchers and authorized specialists to observe key polling places throughout the nation.

RNC co-chair Lara Trump — the daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump — speaks at her group’s “Shield The Vote” tour in Newtown, Pa., Tuesday, June 18, 2024. AP Picture/Derik Hamilton
Trump instructed volunteers she desires to construct a 100,000 individual “military” to assist “guarantee integrity in our elections.” AP Picture/Derik Hamilton

She says it’s a part of an effort to make sure “each authorized vote” is counted in November’s election, because the rise of mail-in ballots has raised new procedural questions.

“That is in contrast to something we’ve ever performed earlier than,” Trump stated. “Not solely are we coaching individuals to be ballot watchers, we are able to prepare individuals to be ballot employees, to truly work in . . . the tabulation facilities the place the mail-in ballots are available.” 

Trump was joined by RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) and former Florida Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi — a key member of the protection workforce in Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial. All audio system delivered transient remarks and had been well-received by attendees.

In outlining his imaginative and prescient for the RNC’s election-integrity tour, Whatley stated his group has beforehand tried to deal with too many issues.

The chairman stated two important priorities ought to be get-out-the-vote efforts and “defending” the vote — which he outlined as making certain state election legal guidelines are adopted whereas supporting “widespread sense” measures, akin to voter-ID necessities and periodically wiping voter rolls in future elections.

Trump stated the RNC is coaching individuals to work in tabulation facilities for mail-in voting.
Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.), RNC chairman Michael Whatley co-chair Lara Trump and former Florida Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi take questions exterior the occasion in Newtown, Pa., on Tuesday. AP Picture/Derik Hamilton

Whatley additionally highlighted the significance of being “within the room” to uphold the electoral course of — drawing upon his expertise as an legal professional engaged on the notorious 2000 Bush-Gore recount in Broward County, Florida.

“If we had not had the 400+ attorneys that we had down there, we’d be speaking about President Gore, not President Bush,” Whatley stated. “It has completely caught with me since that day how vital it’s for us to be within the room.”

RNC-branded “Shield The Vote” indicators line a desk with additional data that greeted aspiring ballot employees on the election integrity occasion Tuesday in Newtown, Pa.

These attending the occasion — which included a closed-to-press coaching session for aspiring ballot watchers — expressed considerations with election integrity however provided varied plans for his or her civic engagement this fall because the social gathering’s switched its stance and embraced mail-in voting.

“I’m gonna [vote] by mail, simply in case on the final second I get sick, dog-sitting obligation or grandmother-sitting obligation,” stated Kathy Kopp. “I’m ensuring my vote will get in there.”

“I’m involved with in-person voting in addition to mail-in voting,” stated Lucy Betzler, a supporter of ID necessities who additionally plans to vote by mail. “If somebody desires to cheat, they’ll discover a approach.”

Kathy Kopp (left) and Lucy Betzler (proper) attended the RNC’s “Shield The Vote Tour” in Newtown, Pa., Tuesday.

One other girl instructed The Put up she plans to vote in individual and was most excited to listen to Lara Trump converse Tuesday.

“I need to meet a robust girl who’s going to make a distinction within the RNC,” stated the lady, who didn’t give her identify due to a dedication to her insurance coverage job. “She is completely superb, they usually did a wonderful job in placing her in that place.”


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