Final answer:
If the crowd is within the electioneering buffer zone near a voting location, the police can intervene and request they move beyond the boundary. This action would be supported by state laws that create such zones to protect voters from political pressure and would not infringe upon the First Amendment, as the courts allow for reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner of free speech.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electioneering and the Law
When a crowd gathers near a voting location and attempts to influence voters, the police can intervene if electioneering laws are being violated. Many states have laws that create a buffer zone around polling places within which electioneering is prohibited. These buffer zones are designed to ensure voters can access polling sites free of political pressure and interference. The police can therefore respond to complaints if the electioneering is occurring within this legally established boundary.
In the context provided, if the large crowd is within the prohibited zone, the police have the right to ask them to move outside of it. This is not a violation of the First Amendment, which guarantees the right to free speech, because the restrictions on electioneering near polling places have been found by the courts to be reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on speech.
Amendments and Related Court Cases
Election Day campaigning rules, such as those in Texas, enforce a designated perimeter for electioneering. These rules aim to prevent interference with the electoral process and protect the rights of voters. It's also pertinent to note past court cases such as Smith v. Allwright, which established the right to vote without racial discrimination. This and other legal precedents further underpin the sanctity of unimpeded access to polling locations.