Lawyers Flood the Zone

The Wesley Community Center was located on a 10^th Street cul-de-sac. The November sun was slowly sinking behind the distant horizon, hinting at another magical Arizona sunset. Juan had already been there several times today and cheerfully greeted his haggard co-workers. They instructed him to wait in the queue for his turn at one of the colorful red, white, and blue voting booths he’d delivered that morning.

“Excuse me, sir,” an irritated-looking woman confronted Juan as he attempted to get in line. “The end is back there,” she pointed towards the door.   

Juan searched for the place she indicated. “Where, outside?”

She nodded and pointed. Juan walked past the rows of people clustered tightly in the main hall and followed the line outside. People were lined up all the way to the parking lot. With a sigh, he trudged to the end.

As he joined the long line outside the polling station, Juan couldn’t help but notice some of his fellow voters murmuring their discontent. He struck up a conversation with the man in front of him. “I just got my citizenship, and this is my first time voting. Is it always like this?”

“No,” the man shook his head, and some other people standing nearby seemed to agree. “The line is never this long. Something’s going on. Look.” He pointed to where a news van was parked, its tall aluminum boom extended high above it with communication gear attached.

When he finally made it back inside the community center, there was a palpable atmosphere of unease. Reporters and cameramen jostled for position as they arrived, their lenses trained on a tense discussion developing between a tiny, wizened lady Juan recognized as Sarah O’Neill, the Team Lead for the Wesley polling station, and a professional-looking man in an expensive business suit.

“Mr. Van Drew,” O’Neill was clearly overwhelmed, but there was also a spark of fire in her eyes. “Let me be perfectly clear. We are not limiting access to this facility based on party affiliation. We are following the proscribed rules as established by the Secretary of State. Only voters who are in the process of voting, and election officials, are allowed inside. All others must stay outside the building and beyond the 75-foot barrier prescribed by law. You, sir, are impeding the voting process.”

Van Drew began to object when two Maricopa County Sheriffs arrived. “You have to take this outside,” they announced, swiftly ushering the reporters and cameramen outside to a chorus of shouted questions.

“You too, sir. Time to go,” an officer approached Van Drew.

Van Drew held up a hand, “Officer, I have every legal right to be here.”

“Not unless you’re a certified political party observer, you’re not!” O’Neill interjected. “Mr. Van Drew, you introduced yourself as an attorney for the Republican National Committee. Your presence here constitutes election interference.”

The Sheriff reached to his belt for a set of handcuffs. “I’m not going to ask you again, sir,” he said menacingly.

Van Drew stood his ground. “Officer, allow me to show you this court order,” he carefully reached inside his jacket and produced several folded pages. “The RNC has been working on this case for months. As I attempted to explain to Ms. O’Neill, I have been certified as an authorized US Department of Justice Observer. I’m here to ensure that the power doesn’t ‘mysteriously’ get cut off from this polling station, or that Ms. O’Neill doesn’t close down early, or allow unauthorized personnel access to the voting machines.”

The Sheriff took the papers and examined them.

“Mr. Van Drew,” O’Neill was furious. “I’ve been working to guarantee the integrity of Arizona elections for over fifteen years. I can assure you that I am fully aware of all the governing regulations and will ensure they are fully and faithfully implemented.”

“You tried to kick me out illegally,” Van Drew sneered. “What other regulations are you violating?”

O’Neil gasped.

“Everything seems to be in order,” the Sheriff returned Van Drew’s documents.

Van Drew beamed with a smug grin, “It appears we’ll be spending some time together after all, Ms. O’Neill.”