[gwright]

I don't think it is helpful to use language like "loitering".

The police are present at high school football games, beaches during the summer, festivals, parades, large town meetings, etc. That isn't "loitering", that is just standard policing.

FWIW, the US has very decentralized policing, which is different than many other countries where the police force operates at the national level. Not sure if that is affecting the way people are thinking about this though.

If you told me the FBI was present at a voting location I would wonder what is going on. Local police officer, nope.

[chrisseaton]

> The police are present at high school football games, beaches during the summer

These aren't normal for a western democracy, if you were wondering.

[gwright]

I can't speak for "western democracy", just my experience in the US.