Chapter 6. Before the Polls Open, this link opens in a new browser tab.
6.H. Find A Chair, this link opens in a new browser tab.
6.K.2. Is the Poll Watcher Required To Sit?
No.
A poll watcher can move freely in the Polling Room, Polling Place, and the Public Forum...
6.K.2.a. Movement Rules
...as long as the poll watcher:
- Does not get close enough to the Voting Booth Area to read a ballot while there are any voters in the Voting Booth Area.
- Does not get close enough to the Voting Machine Area to read recorded votes while there are any voters in the Voting Machine Area.
- Does not get close enough to the ballot box/tabulator to read the ballot.
- A poll watcher can be close enough to the ballot box/tabulator to:
- Listen to the instructions the Election Judge gives the voter, and
- Read the error message on the screen of the tabulator, provided the ballot is protected so that the ballot cannot be seen by the poll watcher.
6.K.2.b Conduct Rules
...as long as the poll watcher does not:
- Station themselves in such close proximity to the judges of election so as to interfere with the orderly conduct of the election, or
- Disrupt the conduct of the election while leaving or entering the Polling Place
No one can tell the poll watcher where they must sit.
No one can tell the poll watcher to sit where they cannot observe the judge making signature comparisons or to sit where they cannot see the ballot box/tabulator, voting booths, voting machines, or voter assistance aids.
A poll watcher may, but is not required to, stand when presenting a challenge. A poll watcher can stand both out of respect for the Election Judge and to emphasize their challenge.
If a poll watcher is posing a challenge on behalf of a voter, the poll watcher may introduce themself to the voter and stand next to the voter so that the voter can hear without the poll watcher shouting or otherwise disrupting the Polling Place.