Oklahoma has denied a request by Russian officials to monitor voters at a polling place on election day, KFOR reports.
The request came from Consul General Alexander Zakharov at the Russian consulate in Houston. The Russians said they simply wanted to observe the U.S. election process.
But the request comes after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly called the U.S. election system “rigged.” Trump has drawn widespread criticism for asking his supporters to “monitor” polling places, which many opponents see as a euphemism for voter intimidation.
Oklahoma cited state law in denying the Russian request. The Oklahoma secretary of state’s wrote to the Russians that it is prohibited under state law to allow anyone except election officials and voters in the polling the area.
Louisiana also declined the Russian request to send diplomats to polling stations.
