Chapter 2 – Basic Poll Watcher Rights & Responsibilities

A rule of thumb for both the Polling Place and the Central Counting Location, is that if a election judge is required, poll watcher[s] are also required.

2.G.1. In the Polling Place.

A poll watcher is allowed in the Polling Place from the time the election judges enter the Polling Place to examine the ballot box/tabulator before the polls open, until the polls have closed and the canvassing of the votes is completed and all ballots are boxed, sealed, and made ready for transport to the Central Counting Location.

The poll watcher has a right to be in the Polling Place from before the polls open until after the polls close.

2.G.1.a. Voting Over Multiple Days.

For Early Voting, Grace Period Registration and Voting, Voting Centers, and Temporary Branch Polling Places, Campus Polling Places, it is impractical for the ballot box/tabulator to be on public display twenty-four (24) hours a day.

Polling Places with multiple days of voting will secure the ballot box/tabulator over night.

Poll watchers will note when the door to the Polling Room is locked and unlocked. The poll watcher team will decide if they want the poll watcher to track who locks and unlocks the door.

As soon as the door to the Polling Room is unlocked — no matter who unlocks the door; be it an Election Judge, or the maintenance staff, cleaning staff, the Election Authority, or the election authority technical staff — the ballot box/tabulator is on public display and the poll watcher is allowed in the Polling Room.