Far-right ‘auditors’ plan campaign of intimidation at polling stations

Far-right activist and self-proclaimed ‘auditor’ of Antifa Public Watch infamy, Lee Scheresy, has once again proven how little he knows about the law. And this time it’s not just by harassing innocent protesters and intimidating women, as is his usual forte. This time, he’s calls for a mass presence by ‘patriots’ outside of polling stations for the local elections. Writing on Facebook, Scheresy urged his followers to film campaigners and expose what he called ‘election interference’. His call to action specifically targets those he labels ‘far left whoppers’, demanding that the internet be ‘covered in election interference videos.’

He really has the self-awareness of a fucking toaster.

‘Auditors’ and the threat to democracy

This call for ‘auditors’ to self-police polling stations follows a trend of far-right thugs with cameras using pseudo-legal tactics to try to provoke confrontations. You’ve probably seen them in action at any kind of peaceful protest you’ve attended recently. They’re usually armed with phones as they get weirdly close to people. They rant about having a legal right to get as unreasonably close to people as humanly possible. Especially women.

These individuals often post as ‘citizen journalists’ and claim to film public officials and vulnerable people and families, as they fuel anti-immigrant agendas for social media clout. But many prominent ‘auditors’ have serious criminal backgrounds. And the police don’t seem to give a fuck.

Curtis Arnold of DJE Media was:

convicted of fraud after he visited gyms and tricked women into modelling leggings, taking sexualised photos and posting them on social media without the women’s permission.

He was found guilty of voyeurism and causing a person to engage in sexual activity. Unsurprisingly, Arnold also has convictions for perverting the course of justice, burglary and drunk driving. Just the man you want policing the police and protests, isn’t it? Another example is Anthony Styles of AJ Audits, who served four years in prison for the indecent assault of a 14 year old. Scott Chesterman, who runs Bare Britain Audits, has a history of abusive behaviour towards women. And he frequently sends threats to activists.

And these men claim to ‘protect all women’.

The actual law on polling day

Scheresy incorrectly claimed in his post that campaigning outside of polling stations is illegal. However, Electoral Commission guidance states that campaigners are allowed to put their message to voters in public spaces outside of polling stations. Staff and police are not allowed to remove anyone who is communicating peacefully with voters. This is unless campaigners impede access to the polling station or intimidate voters.

Political parties often use tellers to record voter numbers outside stations to track the turnout, which is lawful. These volunteers help parties identify supporters who have not yet cast their vote, so they can encourage them to head to the polls before they close. Perfectly acceptable thing to do, but people like Scheresy may see these people as one of their targets. Considering Scheresy’s Antifa Public Watch page is primarily there to dox innocent activists, who is to say that these tellers aren’t going to suffer the same fate for just for doing their job?

Whilst filming outside polling stations is usually legal, the Electoral Commission recommends that officers ban photography inside. Section 66 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 prohibits interference with a voter or attempting to find out how someone voted.

So, Lee, you’re very wrong in your claims lad.

Weaponising fear and intimidation

The presence of Scheresy and his goons is particularly dangerous for marginalised communities. Anti-Muslim propaganda flood the social media pages of Scheresy and the Pink Ladies. These shitty groups actively weaponise misinformation to fuel racism and target vulnerable, marginalised communities.

More than 100 women’s rights groups have warned that people like these weaponise violence against women to promote white supremacist agendas. Up to 50% of the men rioting against immigration in Ireland were convicted of crimes against women themselves. This outright racism is nothing but a thin veil for their hatred. How dare they scream ‘protect our women,’ when they themselves are guilty of the worst kind of crimes against them?

By recording and intimidating people at polling stations, auditors create a hostile and intimidating atmosphere. And this is going to disproportionately affect women and Black and Brown communities. And that is fucking disgusting. This shitty behaviour actively deters people from voting or standing through the fear of being targeted or followed home. It wouldn’t be the first time a right-wing auditor has followed and attacked left-wing activists.

So please, if you are voting on 7 May 2026, please be careful and do not attend polling stations alone, if you can help it. Considering the police have done next to nothing to stop these people from intimidating and doxing people, I doubt they will do anything to stop them from interfering outside polling stations.

Image via author & Facebook