Election Commission

Poll Watcher Guidelines

  1. WHO MAY APPOINT POLL WATCHERS?
    1. Each political party
    2. Each candidate in a general or primary election
    3. Any citizen’s organization interested in a question on the ballot
    4. Any citizen’s organization interested in preserving the purity of elections and in guarding against abuse of the elective franchise
  2. HOW MANY POLL WATCHERS MAY BE APPOINTED?
    1. Political parties may appoint two (2)
    2. Each candidate may appoint one (1) or more (Although multiple poll watchers may be appointed, only one (1) of the poll watchers may be in a polling place at any given time.)
    3. Each citizen’s organization may appoint two (2)
  3. HOW DO POLL WATCHERS GET APPOINTED?
    1. Appointments must be submitted to the county election commission, and
    2. Appointments must be written and signed by the person or organization authorized to make the appointment
    3. Appointments may designate the same person to serve in more than one polling location
  4. TO WHAT LOCATIONS MAY POLL WATCHERS BE APPOINTED?
    1. Early Voting
      1. County election commission office; and/or
      2. Satellite location(s)
      3. Nursing home(s)
      4. Penal institution(s)
    2. Election Day
      1. Polling site
      2. Absentee counting board
  5. WHEN MUST APPOINTMENTS BE MADE?
    1. Early Voting
      1. No later than 12:00 noon two (2) business days before the first day of early voting; or
      2. No later than 12:00 noon two (2) business days before the poll watcher will be present at the early voting site
    2. Election day
      1. Appointments must be submitted no later than 12:00 noon two (2) business days before the election
  6. WHO MAY NOT BE APPOINTED AS A POLL WATCHER?
    1. Anyone who will be or who is a candidate for an office on the ballot
    2. County election commission members
  7. WHAT DO POLL WATCHERS DO UPON ARRIVING AT THE POLLS?
    1. Upon arrival at the polling place, a watcher shall display his appointment to the Officer of Elections.
    2. The poll watcher shall sign the register of poll watchers.
    3. The poll watcher shall wear a badge displaying their “name” and the words “POLL WATCHER”. The County Election Commission should provide the badges (labels) for candidates or campaign committee’s to use so the precinct officials know they have been duly appointed.
  8. WHAT MAY POLL WATCHERS DO?
    1. Watch and inspect performance in and around polling place
    2. Speak to the judges and the officer of elections
    3. Through judges, challenge voters
    4. During preparation and certification, inspect the poll lists
    5. Inspect the ballots while being called and counted
    6. During preparation and certification, inspect the tally sheets
    7. Present a protest of any aspect of the conduct of the election to the officer of elections, county election commission or inspector
  9. WHAT MAY POLL WATCHERS NOT DO?
    1. Interfere with any voter in preparing or casting voter’s ballot
    2. Prevent election official from performing his or her duties
    3. Inspect signature lists during the election hours
    4. Observe the giving assistance to a voter
    5. Wear campaign material of any kind during the performance of his or her duties
    6. Exit the room of the counting board after the actual counting of ballots begins
    7. Possess electronic devices when they are observing the duties of the absentee counting board.
    8. Speak to the voters. This includes greeting the voter or standing in the doorway where the voter enters.
  10. MAY POLL WATCHERS ENGAGE IN CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES?
    1. In the polling place - NO
    2. Outside the 100’ boundary
      1. Yes, he or she may engage in campaign activity outside of the campaign free zone,
      2. However, once the poll watcher resumes his or her duties as a poll watcher, he or she must cease the campaign activity.