Snippet:

• Concerned that federal law enforcement agents or the National Guard could be sent to polling places during upcoming elections in a move to deter voters, about 100 Tucsonans on Saturday made plans to keep watch at those sites.
• Two Phoenix-based nonprofits, Living United for Change in Arizona and the Arizona Center for Empowerment, held its second training session for "constitutional observers" — those who plan to scout the outside of Southern Arizona's polling paces to ensure voters' rights are respected.
• The groups held a previous "congreso" in Phoenix, which they said drew about 250 people. The hours-long session in Tucson happened at the Ramada by Wyndham Suites on 777 W. Cushing St.
• The presence of an outside observer could mean the difference between whether someone votes or not, said Karime Rodriguez, ACE's services manager.
• And if Southern Arizona elections happen without incident, said LUCHA organizing director Gina Mendez, those observers have a clearer picture of their own voting rights and are empowered to educate their neighbors on the subject.
• "They're going to be documenting in case there's anything that doesn't go smoothly," Mendez said. "And what does that mean? If there's people or anyone who's trying to discourage people from voting, that we have a plan and we document that. Also, if there's people who show up with bad intentions, we're documenting that as well."

Rodriguez added during the training, which included scenarios for trainees to work through, that observers should stay at least 75 feet away from the polling place and remain nonpartisan at all times.