Chapter 10 — Most Common Problems
F. Problems in the Voting Booth Area
1. Voters With Ballots Waiting To Vote
Up to two voters who have already been issued their ballots may be allowed in the voting booth area while awaiting an open voting booth.
2. Voting
Upon receipt of the ballot, the voter will select an empty voting booth, and vote.
The voter will not linger in the voting booth or the voting booth area.
3. Multiple People In A Voting Booth
This is the problem that a poll watcher sees most often.
People love to comment, kibitz, offer advice, seek advice, act as if they are cheating off of another student's test, while in the voting booth.
The problem is that the poll watcher cannot tell if it is assistance or intimidation. A poll watcher also cannot tell if this behavior is causing problems for other voters.
Occasionally, the poll watcher will see two voters in conversation in the voting booth.
If is a very short conversation, such as "My pen just gave out. Can I use your pen when you're done?", you can ignore the conversation.
If it is a long conversation or a number of short conversations, challenge it. Point it out to the election judges. If an election judge goes to the voting booths to investigate, ask that two judges from different parties on the assumption that the voter needs assistance.
The poll watcher may join the election judges.
4. Spoiled Ballot
If, before submitting a ballot to an election judge to be placed in the tabulator/ballot box, the voter decides that the ballot is spoiled, the voter can surrender the spoiled ballot and request another ballot.
The voter does not have to explain why or how the ballot is spoiled.
Before a new ballot is received, the election judge will, in the presence of the voter and poll watcher, write "SPOILED" diagonally across the entire face of the ballot, both sides if it is a two-sided ballot.
5. Returning the Ballot
The voter returns the ballot to the election judge who, in turn, enters it into the tabulator/ballot box.
An election judge can instruct the voter on how to submit the ballot into the tabulator/ballot box, but that is the decision of solely of the election judge.
Poll Watcher
A poll watcher is not allowed to place a ballot in the tabulator/ballot box. A poll watcher cannot instruct a voter on how to enter a ballot into the tabulator/ballot box.
If a voter asks for assistance from a poll watcher, the poll watcher should answer, "I am sorry. I am a poll watcher. Only an election judge can help you with that. An election judge will be with you shortly."
A poll watcher cannot stop a voter from submitting a ballot into the tabulator/ballot box without the assistance of an election judge, but the poll watcher cannot assist or give instruction.
6. Under Voting
A voter is allowed to undervote, that is to choose not to vote in some races or not to vote on a ballot initiative.
A tabulator/ballot box will usually return the ballot.
- The election judge will alert the voter to the undervote and then ask the voter if it is their intention not to vote?
- If the voter answers that it is their intention not to vote in specific races, then the election judge shall resubmit the ballot into the tabulator/ballot box and the voter is free to leave the polling place
- If it is not their intention, the ballot will be returned to the voter and the voter can return to the voting booth to continue to vote.
A poll watcher will see this most often in races were multiple votes can be cast and the instructions read, "vote for up to [X number]".
7. Ballot Not Accepted
If the ballot is rejected, the voter can surrender the ballot and request a new ballot.
If the ballot is a paper ballot, in addition to initialing the ballot, the election judge will also write "SPOILED" diagonally across the entire face of the ballot, both sides if it is a two-sided ballot.
8. Leaving the Polling Place With a Ballot
A voter cannot walk out of polling place with a ballot.
9. Voting A False Ballot
A voter may not bring their own ballot to the polling place.
10. Too Many Ballots or Too Few Ballots
A voter must return to the election judge at the tabulator/ballot box the same number ballots that was issued to the voter.
The voter will be asked to return to the voting booth.
11. New Voter Prohibited From Entering Voting Booth
Until all ballots are received by the election judge, no new voter is permitted to enter the voting booth last occupied by the voter with a shortage of ballots.
12. Returning to the Voting Booth
Once the ballot is deposited in the tabulator/ballot box, the voter is free to leave the polling place and cannot return to the voting booth.
Note: The cardboard sleeves used to keep ballots secret replaces instructions to fold the ballot.