The DNC argues the court should prohibit the RNC from funding any Trump or state organization “ballot security” or “ballot integrity” measures. | AP Photo Democrats: RNC violating anti-voter intimidation agreement

Democrats are asking a federal judge to block the Republican National Committee from coordinating with Donald Trump’s campaign on “ballot security” efforts, saying the RNC is violating a decades old legal agreement that bars the group from tactics that critics call voter intimidation.

In a motion filed in New Jersey federal court on Wednesday, the Democratic National Committee charges that the RNC has violated the consent decree “by supporting and enabling the efforts of the Republican candidate for President, Donald J. Trump, as well as his campaign and advisors, to intimidate and discourage minority voters from voting in the 2016 Presidential Election.”


The alleged coordination, the DNC says, is a violation of a 1982 consent decree in which the RNC agreed to curb its vote watching tactics — the result of a suit Democrats filed against the RNC for allegedly intimidating minority voters at the polls during New Jersey’s 1981 gubernatorial election.

The DNC argues the court should prohibit the RNC from funding any Trump or state organization “ballot security” or “ballot integrity” measures, and order the committee to seek reimbursement for any funds that have gone toward them. The DNC also wants the RNC to distribute the consent decree to all its field offices and report any RNC worker who engages in the practices, and for the court to impose unspecified “coercive” sanctions against the RNC until it is in “full compliance.’

Despite a lack of evidence of any widespread voter fraud, Trump's campaign has suggested it will occur in “certain areas” and encouraged supporters to watch the polls, part of the GOP nominee's broader assertion that the presidential election will be “rigged" in Hillary Clinton’s favor.

In the DNC motion, attorney Angelo Genova wrote there is “ample evidence that Trump has enjoyed the direct and tacit support of the RNC in its ‘ballot security’ endeavors, including the RNC’s collaboration on efforts to prevent this supposed ‘rigging’ and ‘voter fraud.’”

Genova quotes Trump running mate Mike Pence as saying at a town hall that the campaign and RNC “are working very very closely with state governments and secretaries of states all over the country to ensure ballot integrity,” and quoted a reporter recounting a conversation with Trump’s campaign manager in which she said said the campaign is “actively working with the national committee, the official party, and campaign lawyers to monitor precincts around the country.”

“Although certain RNC officials have attempted to distance themselves from some of the Trump campaign’s more recent statements, there is now ample evidence that Trump has enjoyed the direct and tacit support of the RNC in its ‘ballot security’ endeavors, including the RNC’s collaboration on efforts to prevent this supposed ‘rigging’ and ‘voter fraud,’” the motion reads.

The RNC responded with a statement: The filing is completely meritless. Just as in all prior elections in which the consent decree was in effect, the RNC strictly abides by the consent decree and does not take part directly or indirectly in any efforts to prevent or remedy vote fraud. Nor do we coordinate with the Trump campaign or any other campaign or party organization in any efforts they may make in this area. The RNC remains focused on getting out the vote."

The committee’s counsel last week wrote a memo to members to remind them “of the restrictions placed on the RNC by the consent decree” and urging them not to engage in any ballot security measures, according to The Wall Street Journal. The counsel, John Ryder, warned that the consent decree — which is set to expire next year — could be extended if the party violates it.

During the 1981 election, the Republican National Committee sent armed off-duty law enforcement officers to the polls in minority neighborhoods wearing arm bands identifying them as the “Ballot Security Task Force.” They also put up warning posters warning against voting fraud, and challenged the eligibility of voters.

Republican Tom Kean won the election and went on to win reelection by a landslide in 1985.