Krasner vows tough response as Philly DA launches election monitor unit

Philadelphia voters will see uniformed police officers patrolling their polling places this Tuesday. The city’s District Attorney’s Office is launching a dedicated Election Protection Task Force for the Nov. 3 general election. The unit is designed to identify and resolve issues that could interfere with a resident's ability to cast a ballot.

District Attorney Larry Krasner announced the initiative via a remote feed at a morning event. He stated the team will monitor the city’s polling stations throughout the day. Krasner said the group would respond firmly to any interference. He warned that anyone who attempts to steal a vote in Philadelphia will pay a price, regardless of their party affiliation.

"Make no mistake, we got teeth and we are going to use them if we need to use them," Krasner said. "If people want to F around, they are going to find out, it's that simple."

The task force operates alongside a federal effort. The Department of Justice announced it will send election monitors to specific parts of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia and Lehigh County are included in that federal deployment.

Local law enforcement officials confirmed the staffing plan for Election Day. Uniformed officers will patrol polling places to respond to threats or harassment. A separate investigative unit will monitor ongoing issues throughout the day.

Voters who spot irregularities can call the DAO Election Task Force hotline at 215-686-9641. The state has also created a form for reporting voter interference or intimidation. The national nonpartisan Election Protection hotline is 866-OUR-VOTE.

The Philadelphia City Commissioners’ Office handles general questions about the election process at 215-686-VOTE. Voters facing violence or physical threats at a polling station should call 9-1-1 immediately.