The Portage County Sheriff worried some citizens | News, Sports, Jobs

Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski has behaved so badly on social media that the U.S. Department of Justice is considering sending election observers to ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws during early voting and election day.

Remember, last month Zuchowski got comfortable suggesting on social media that households with political signs in their yards supporting Kamala Harris should have their addresses noted.

He suggested that, if a Democrat won the presidency, illegal immigrants should be sent to live in these households, and he called these immigrants “human locusts.”

It was an act of political intimidation so reckless that it raised concerns about voters’ feelings of safety during early voting and on November 5.

His office, however, responded to the surveillance by stating that “DOJ’s monitoring of polling locations/polls is conducted nationally and is not unique to Portage County.” This is normal DOJ practice.

In other words, “nothing to see here”.

But the message is just a little misleading. According to the Department of Justice, “Voters in Portage County have raised concerns about intimidation resulting from surveillance and collection of voters’ personal information, as well as threats regarding the election process.”

Given the stress Ohio communities are under with increasingly nasty rhetoric as we head toward this general election, it is understandable that residents are seeking the reassurance that the presence of federal observers provides to support secure and fair elections. Portage County residents will surely be determined to see the election proceed without any incidents of harassment or intimidation – with or without a federal presence. But it’s good to know that additional measures are being taken.

This one means too much to leave anything to chance.