Be An Election Watcher or Observer

What steps and forms are applicable to Election Watchers?

Must have Certificate of Appointment & Oath of Watcher form submitted to the County Clerk with Watcher’s name and location of observation. The watcher must also complete training courses provided by or approved by the Secretary of State if going to observe election activities where confidential and personally identifiable information may be within view.  These forms must be submitted the Friday before the election, to the extent possible.  The Certificate must accompany the Watcher to the observing location and surrendered to the Supervisor Judge. (If a Watcher leaves a location but returns to the same location, another Certificate of Appointment is not necessary, but a new Watcher who is replacing an original Watcher must provide his or her Certificate of Appointment for that polling location. The Certificate of Appointment is not transferable to another individual.)

Must take an oath administered by an Election Judge.

What are a Watcher’s restrictions?

Watchers may be present at each stage of the conduct of the election, when electors are voting or when election judges are present and performing election activities but must be aware of the following accommodations:

• Stay at least 6 feet from the voting equipment, voting booths and ballot box (the immediate voting area).
• Not handle election supplies, touch, or handle the official signature cards, ballots, mail ballot and/or provisional ballot envelopes, voting or counting machines or machine components.
• Disrupt or interfere with any stage of the election process, including issuance of ballots, receiving of ballots, and voting or counting of ballots.
• Must not interact with Election Judges other than a designated watcher contact, except as permitted by the County Clerk.
• Use of a mobile phone or other electronic device to make or receive a call, or to use electronic device to take or record pictures, video or audio in any place election activities are conducted is not permitted.
• Must not attempt to determine how any elector voted or disclose any confidential voter information including recording of ballot numbers or other identifying information about electors.
• Disclose any election results before the polls have closed.

A County Clerk may remove a Watcher upon finding the Watcher has committed or encouraged fraud in connection with his or her duties, violated any of the limitations outlined above, violated his or her oath or was abusive or threatening toward election officials, judges, or voters.