美国国家公共电台 NPR--Monitors at Arizona ballot drop boxes draw complaints of voter intimidation

Monitors at Arizona ballot¹ drop boxes draw complaints of voter intimidation²

Transcript³

PHOENIX⁴ — In May, following a presentation to lawmakers from True The Vote — an organization whose faulty research was behind the debunked⁵ "2000 Mules⁷" film — Arizona state Sen. Kelly Townsend had some encouraging words for residents who wanted to act on baseless election fraud claims.

"I have been so pleased to hear of all of you vigilantes out there that want to camp out at these drop boxes, right? So do it. Do it," the Republican said to applause from the audience. "We put the word out today that if you're going to come and be like a mule⁶ and stuff ballot boxes this time, you're going to get caught."

With early voting now underway in Arizona, it's clear that many people in this swing state have followed through on such calls to action.

An incident at a drop box in the Phoenix suburbs — where voters were filmed, photographed and followed by car out of a parking lot — was referred to the U.S. Department of Justice by the Arizona secretary of state's office.

A separate complaint was filed last week, after "camo clad people" took pictures of a voter and their vehicle's license⁸ plate at Maricopa County election headquarters.

And on Friday, Maricopa County sheriff's deputies responded to two men, armed and dressed in tactical gear, standing⁹ watch at a drop box in Mesa.

As of Monday, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs had referred a total of six potential voter intimidation complaints near ballot drop boxes to law enforcement.

"Voter harassment¹⁰ may include gathering¹¹ around ballot drop boxes questioning voters, brandishing¹² weapons, taking pictures of people voting and following or chasing voters who are attempting to drop off their ballots¹³, and it can all be considered voter intimidation," Hobbs said in a statement. "It is unacceptable."

Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone told reporters on Monday that he's had to devote "considerable" resources to monitor those activities at drop boxes, "just to give people confidence that they can cast a vote safely. And that is absurd."

The incidents even caught the attention of U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, who said Monday that the Justice Department "will not permit voters to be intimidated¹⁵" during the midterm elections.

Drop box vigilantism isn't limited to Maricopa County in Arizona. For instance, two groups in rural northern Yavapai County had similar plans to monitor drop boxes.

Technically¹⁶, as long as people stay at least 75 feet away from the drop boxes, there's nothing illegal about filming or monitoring the sites.

At a press conference last week, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer said officials are evaluating what can and cannot be done about drop box observers. "We have not come up with the legal framework by which we are evaluating that yet," he said.

At least some of the drop box watchers have claimed they are with Clean Elections USA, a national organization promoted by former Trump¹⁷ aide Steve Bannon. A federal lawsuit¹⁸ filed Monday seeks an order barring the group's members from following and taking photos or videos of voters at drop boxes.

Election conspiracy¹⁹ theorists like Mark Finchem, the Republican nominee²⁰ for secretary of state in Arizona, have defended the vigilantism — and accused Secretary of State Hobbs, a Democrat²¹ running for governor, and reporters of "intimidating²² the ballot drop box watchers."

"WATCH ALL DROP BOXES. PERIOD. SAVE THE REPUBLIC," he tweeted last week.

But Maricopa County election officials, having faced flawed reviews and scrutiny²³ since the 2020 election, have seen enough.

"Uninformed vigilantes outside Maricopa County's drop boxes are not increasing election integrity," Richer and Maricopa County Board Chair Bill Gates — both Republicans — said in a joint²⁴ statement. "Instead they are leading to voter intimidation complaints."

"Although monitoring and transparency in our elections is critical, voter intimidation is unlawful," they added.

Gates noted²⁵ that it's not just voters who feel harassed²⁶ and intimidated. Election workers have been photographed outside county headquarters, an issue Gates said occurred back in the August primary, too.

"Regardless of what the intent is of these people who are taking pictures of our election workers, they're harassing²⁷ people," he said. "They're not helping²⁸, you know, further the interests of democracy."

As for Townsend, the GOP state senator who encouraged vigilantism over the summer, she's since distanced herself from the efforts on the ground in Arizona.

"To be clear, I never said to intimidate¹⁴ anyone," Townsend tweeted on Monday.

"I should not have to say this but wearing tactical gear while watching a ballot drop box could be considered voter intimidation," she added. "Don't do it."

1 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

2 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 phoenix   

n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生

参考例句：

• The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
• The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。

5 debunked   

v.揭穿真相，暴露( debunk的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His theories have been debunked by recent research. 最近的研究揭穿了他的理论的真相。
• Some advertising slogans should be debunked. 某些夸大的广告用语应予揭露。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 mule   

n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人

参考例句：

• A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。
• He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。

7 mules   

骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者

参考例句：

• The cart was pulled by two mules. 两匹骡子拉这辆大车。
• She wore tight trousers and high-heeled mules. 她穿紧身裤和拖鞋式高跟鞋。

8 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

10 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

11 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

12 brandishing   

v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀

参考例句：

• The horseman came up to Robin Hood, brandishing his sword. 那个骑士挥舞着剑，来到罗宾汉面前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He appeared in the lounge brandishing a knife. 他挥舞着一把小刀，出现在休息室里。 来自辞典例句

13 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 intimidate   

vt.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• You think you can intimidate people into doing what you want?你以为你可以威胁别人做任何事？
• The first strike capacity is intended mainly to intimidate adversary.第一次攻击的武力主要是用来吓阻敌方的。

15 intimidated   

v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的

参考例句：

• We try to make sure children don't feel intimidated on their first day at school. 我们努力确保孩子们在上学的第一天不胆怯。
• The thief intimidated the boy into not telling the police. 这个贼恫吓那男孩使他不敢向警察报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

17 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

18 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

19 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

20 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

21 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

22 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

23 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

24 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

25 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

26 harassed   

adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He has complained of being harassed by the police. 他投诉受到警方侵扰。
• harassed mothers with their children 带着孩子的疲惫不堪的母亲们

27 harassing   

v.侵扰，骚扰( harass的现在分词 )；不断攻击（敌人）

参考例句：

• The court ordered him to stop harassing his ex-wife. 法庭命令他不得再骚扰前妻。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was too close to be merely harassing fire. 打得这么近，不能完全是扰乱射击。 来自辞典例句

28 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。