On November 8, 2016, the citizens of America will elect a new president. As the chief election official for Pike County Alabama, our team is currently preparing for the upcoming general election. I always take this responsibility very seriously and remain committed to ensuring an honest election process.
A recent Reuters report states the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe “aims to send 500 international observers to observe November’s U.S. presidential election”. The OSCE is being prodded by the liberal progressive Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, based out of Washington DC, to send 500 international observers to monitor polling places across the United States. This proposal cannot and will not be tolerated in Alabama.
I have some good news for the OSCE and the Leadership Conference. Here in Alabama, we have sound election laws currently in place that protects every eligible citizen’s right to vote, at the same time protecting against voter fraud.
For instance, current Alabama law requires every eligible voter to produce a valid Photo ID at the polls to cast a ballot. This is sound public policy that ensures honest elections and also that no illegal immigrants are attempting to influence our elections.
I would like to inform the OSCE and the Leadership Conference that current Alabama law allows for eligible voters to be appointed as a poll watcher to monitor our election process at each polling precinct. Each political party is allowed one appointee per polling precinct. We are very capable of appointing Americans to monitor our elections.
The citizens of Alabama have a right to freely exercise their right to vote without fear from any outsiders who wish to intimidate us. The prospect of an international group sending foreign observers to our country, to monitor and interfere with our free elections infuriates me and will not be tolerated if they show up in Pike County.
In the event any foreign election monitors are dispatched to Alabama, I am calling on Governor Robert Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange to use every resource under their authority and control to ensure the sovereignty of Alabama is not violated.
As Alabamians and Americans we cannot and will not surrender our sovereignty and our God-given constitutional rights to anyone.
Wes Allen is Probate Judge of Pike County, Alabama.
