Michigan man singled out Muslim women in hijabs for voter intimidation

A Michigan man attempted to block two women wearing hijabs from entering their polling place Tuesday morning, prompting Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum to call the interaction an act of voter intimidation.

In an email to Mother Jones, voter Ron Fox—who witnessed the scene—said a man outside of the polling place pulled two women out of line to examine their voter registration cards and appeared to be directing them to another poling location.

”I would say that there was at least some profiling going on as the two women in question were the only ones he singled out while I was in line,” Fox told Mother Jones, stressing that the man “seemed polite.”

“When I finished voting, there were two polling officials that were asking him to leave,” Fox wrote. “He was refusing. He then entered the polling place, presumably to attempt to obtain permission to remain.”

Fox said the man lacked an identifying sticker provided to elected offices in Ingham county; he reported the poll watcher to Byrum, who said she considers the man’s actions "targeting individuals and harassing them and trying to convince them that they shouldn't be voting.”

"It doesn't pass the smell test .. so it needed to be addressed by law enforcement," Byrum said.