Voter Intimidation: Special Forces Veterans Organized To Maintain A Clean Election

A group of Special Forces veterans who are determined to prevent voter intimidation in Philadelphia have been dubbed Seal Team November 6. The former Navy Seals, Army Rangers, Green Berets, and Delta Force members reportedly want to make sure that there is not a repeat of the Black Panthers alleged intimidation of voters on Tuesday.

Former Navy Captain Benjamin Brink had this to say about the group’s plans on Election Day:

“The nation saw the video of members of the Black Panthers in Philadelphia intimidating people trying to vote in 2008. We are going to try and make certain that nothing like that happens this year.”

Brinks stated that more than 100 former Special Forces members have volunteered for the duty during the presidential election. Brinks noted that the mission involves observing and reporting, according to The Philly Post. The former Navy officer also stated the obvious referring to the character of his guys when he said his men are not easily intimidated. Group members will attempt to videotape any voter intimidation they encounter.

The “clean election movement” idea sprang the fight for voter ID laws and a video showing some Black Panthers members standing at the entrance of a polling place in 2008. The Get Out the Vet organization also works to make sure that all military members serving overseas get ballots and that those ballots are counted.

Brinks had this to say about military ballots:

“There are men and women fighting right now so that we have the right to vote in free and fair elections. We are just doing our part to make certain democracy works the way it is supposed to.”

Philadelphia will get “extra attention” due to the Black Panther presence at voting locations in 2008, but it is not the only city where the Get Out the Vet group will be on November 6. Special Forces veterans will also reportedly be positioned in Miami, Cleveland, and Las Vegas.