Watchdogs, elections officials say nothing out of line at polling stations

Accusations of electioneering and voter intimidation tactics at polling stations in immigrant-rich neighborhoods -- a recurring gripe in Glendale -- re-emerged Tuesday, despite the observations of watchdogs and elections officials.

Polling investigator David Mack said he had not seen outsiders trying to help people translate ballots and pointed out that they aren’t allowed in the polling booth with voters.

“We’re tabulating and tallying who goes into the booth,” he said at a polling station on East Harvard Street.

Peter Darian, an independent poll watcher who had been to several stations Tuesday, said he did not see people trying to influence votes under the guise of helping with translating. But he did say it has happened during other elections.

Darian said he takes off work every year to be a poll watchdog.

Cecilia Reyes, a spokeswoman for Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, which oversees election polls, said there had been no complaints filed for electioneering violations at 305 E. Harvard St. or 1201 Broadway in Glendale.

The two locations typically come under scrutiny during local and regional elections, with accusations levied mostly against Armenian American poltical action groups.

Reyes said polling inspectors are trained in a variety of troubleshooting measures for any issues that come up on site.

“If there is an issue, it gets internally resolved,” Reyes said, adding that all reports are analyzed at the end of Election Day.

ELECTION 2012:

As campaigns wind down, rhetoric and accusations heat up

California election season sees hundreds of complaints to watchdog agency

-- Brittany Levine and Jason Wells, Times Community News

Follow Brittany Levine on Google+ and on Twitter: @brittanylevine.