Volunteer poll watchers have descended on voting locations across America to monitor the process amidst fears, particularly among Republican voters, about the US election’s fairness.
In Madison, Wisconsin, the Express met Kolleen Kauk who was arriving at a polling station in the suburbs to act as an election observer.
Wearing a stars and stripes t-shirt, Kauk was excited about the prospect of involving herself in the democratic process.
She said: “I’m excited to be part of the election. From all sides we just want things to be fair.”
Kauk explained that she was one of four independent observers who would be monitoring the polling at Madison Public Library.
“I’ve not seen anything concerning and I’ve been here for two days already with the early voting.
“When I’ve seen things that were not right, I’ve asked the officials and they’ve explained them to me.
“A few days back a voter came in who had been issued with a postal ballot but wanted to vote in person. I asked the official ‘Is that right?’ They explained that the postal vote would be cancelled and they could do it then.”
Kauk said everyone had been very welcoming and she’d had a positive response from the voters themselves.
“We’re not allowed to say anything directly to voters, but they can ask us questions and we can raise issues directly with the officials,” she added.
“I want America to do better and be better. This is my way of being part of that.”
The presence of poll watchers has been a major issue in some areas, with allegations that some of those intending to monitor the fairness of the election have intimidated staff.
Since 2016, Donald Trump has consistently complained about electoral fraud. This explosively led to the ‘Stop the Steal’ demonstration in Washington DC which saw violent clashes as protesters stormed the Capitol.
Faith amongst Republican supporters faith in the electoral system for the 2024 Election is low – all of the Trump fans the Express met at a pre-election rally said they believed it wouldn’t be fair.
Steve McGuire and his wife Jodie, from Idaho, claimed they’d already seen evidence of fraud in the early voting on social media.
“I don’t think the election will be fair,” McGuire said. “I mean, you go on Twitter or X and hear people are touching that screen for Trump, and then it switches. They’re closing down polls early in Pennsylvania.
“Like Trump says, all they’re good at is cheating. I think it’s going to be a nail-biter.”
