Lt. Gov. Dan Forest recently called out the North Carolina Board of Elections for its prohibition against law enforcement uniforms at polling places, saying it is insulting to public servants. | Courtesy Photo
Lt. Gov. Dan Forest recently called out the North Carolina Board of Elections for its prohibition against law enforcement uniforms at polling places, saying it is insulting to public servants. | Courtesy Photo
Lt. Gov. Dan Forest criticized a state Board of Elections memo saying that policing should be prohibited at polling sites on election day because it intimidates some voters.
Forest's, who is the Republican candidate for governor against Democratic incumbent Gov. Roy Cooper, position received backing from the Chatham County Republican Party.
"This memo is insulting to the men and women in uniform and raises troubling questions about why the Governor does not want security on-site at polling places where many will be gathered exercising their Constitutional rights," Forest said in his Facebook statement on Oct. 14.
The memo sought to limit law enforcements' contact with voters at polling locations, whether in uniform or not and providing traffic assistance, but does encourage polling locations to contact police if a situation arises.
"Dan Forest understands how to protect voting rights for all people at all voting sites," the Chatham County Republican Party said in an Oct. 14 Facebook post. "Cooper's State Board of Elections is trying to tell local Police Chiefs and Sheriffs across North Carolina how to do their job."
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