Russia Request Polling Stations

Russia Request Polling Stations, Louisiana and Oklahoma have declined a Russian request to send its diplomats to monitor polling stations on Election Day, according to letters from state officials provided to CNN.

In turning down the request from the Russian consulate in Houston, Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler wrote that recent flooding had left his office extremely short-staffed trying to deal with the damage and prepare adequately for the vote on November 8.

“Had this flood event not occurred, we certainly would have been open to such a visit,” he told Consul General Alexander Zakharov.

Consulate General of Russia in the U.S., Houston – Alexander K. Zakharov sent a letter to Oklahoma Secretary of State Chris Benge, requesting to send a diplomat to monitor polling stations on Election Day

Oklahoma denied the Russian proposal by citing state laws that prohibit it.

“While it would be our honor to offer the opportunity to observe our voting process, it is prohibited under state law to allow anyone except election officials and voters in or around the area where the voting takes place,” the Oklahoma secretary of state’s office wrote to the Russians. “I hope that you are able to view the televised election process on November 8, 2016, as citizens of the United States select the country’s next president. It is truly an amazing system.”

Oklahoma Secretary of State Chris Benge replies to Consulate General of Russia in the U.S. Alexander K. Zakharov letter.

The Russian request comes after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect that the election could be “rigged” and warned of the possibility of “large-scale” voter fraud.