Last-Minute Suggestion: BE A POLL WATCHER ON TUES.

by John Javna, Fri Nov 03, 2006 at 07:14:39 AM EST

What have you got planned for Election Day? If you're not already committed to GOTV efforts, why not think about becoming a poll watcher? You can protect the integrity of the voting process by working inside a polling place.

WHAT'S A POLLWATCHER? First off, there's a difference between poll watchers and poll workers. Poll workers are the nonpartisan folks who run the polling places, check off names, make decisions about who can vote, etc. (It's probably too late to become a poll worker, but you can call your local county election office to find out. Even this late, some election boards are desperate for them.) On the other hand, poll watchers are decidedly partisan--they're appointed by a specific political party or candidate to observe the voting. Their job is to make sure the vote is fair...but as you're probably aware, Republicans have frequently used their position to undermine democracy instead, harassing and intimidating minority voters in precincts that normally vote Democratic. This is one of the ways the Republican culture of corruption has affected the democratic process. And it's one you can do something about. When there are honest poll watchers on the scene, there's less voter abuse.
Poll watchers can't interfere in the voting process, but they can answer questions, clarify election law, help voters who request aid, and document any voting irregularities. They also monitor voting lists to keep track of which Democrats haven't voted yet. Democratic workers then try to contact people who haven't voted and help get them to the polls.

ANYONE CAN DO IT. To qualify, you just need to be officially designated as a poll watcher by a candidate or political party on the ballot. So call your local Democratic Party or a candidate's headquarters and set it up today. Some states require preregistration; in others, you can simply show up on Election Day with authorization. The Democratic Party (or local election office, or League of Women Voters) will know your state's rules. Then, show up and stay as long as you can. Your presence will help make sure every qualified voter gets a chance to be heard in this crucial election.

Tags: Activism, poll watchers (all tags)

Comments

20 Comments

Sort by

permalink

BE A POLL WATCHER ON TUES.

I'm working as a poll worker as I usually do, primarily because I think that's much more important than the partisan activity on election day. In my area, the poll workers are generally 65+ years old and people just aren't replacing them.

Without poll workers, lines are longer, polling stations are larger, and mistakes are more likely to happen.

by MyDD Fan 2006-11-03 07:29AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: BE A POLL WATCHER ON TUES.

Ditto. At 41, I'm usually the second or third youngest person there. It's nice to be the 'kid' from time to time, at my age.

by Nina Katarina 2006-11-03 07:45AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: BE A POLL WATCHER ON TUES.

I was 18 the first time I did it and it was almost unbearable listening to the "you remind me so much of my grandson."

I'm 24 now and I usually "manage" people 2-3 times my age on election day. I wish more people in my age group would take the time to do it.

by MyDD Fan 2006-11-03 07:55AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: BE A POLL WATCHER ON TUES.

I'll be out there on Tuesday in NH-2! I took the day off months ago. First time - and I'm sure I'll be the youngest at 33.

by tneeld 2006-11-03 07:56AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: BE A POLL WATCHER ON TUES.

I was an election judge for 4 years. It was not only a great learning experience, but also a great time. I'd recommend being a poll worker to anyone who either has or can take the whole day off. When I started in my late 40s, I was probably 20 years younger than the next youngest poll worker.

by phillydem 2006-11-03 09:16AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Last-Minute Suggestion:

Might be too last minute. In Ohio, at least, poll observer lists had to be submitted some time ago, at least that's what I'm told by the Dem Party office in Ravenna. All the same even if you're post deadline for this there are other ways to help. Call your local candidates!

by OhioBobcat 2006-11-03 08:10AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Last-Minute Suggestion:

Someone from the Strickland campaign just signed me up today. (But I did it in 2004, so maybe they submitted my name assuming I would do it again this year.)

by comotion 2006-11-03 08:24AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Last-Minute Suggestion: BE A POLL WATCHER

Agree 100%. I am doing GOTV this year but I have done it in the past. It is very important and rewarding work.

by John Mills 2006-11-03 08:39AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You posted some bad info

There's some bad info in the main story. I don't know about all the other states, but in Pennsylvania, poll watchers cannot assist voters or interfere in any other way inside the poll

This is a direct quote from the Phila Board of Elections:

"The primary responsibility of Poll Watchers is to WATCH the election process as representatives of their candidate or political party. Certified Watchers are premitted to be present in the polling place during Election Day and during the tabulation of results after the polls close at 8PM in accordance with the following requirements of the Election Code: ...

3. Watchers MAY NOT INTERFERE with the voting process. If they believe something to be wrong or irregular in the election procedure, they should report it to their candidate or party.

4. Watchers must remain OUTSIDE the enclosed area of the voting machines while in the polling place."

That means poll watchers cannot assist voters.

by phillydem 2006-11-03 09:24AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You posted some bad info

I'll back up what you said about Pennsylvania poll watching. We can watch, point out a problem to the judge of elections, and call our party election lawyer. That's about it. We do have paid helpers, supposedly nonpartisan, for assisting voters.

I did this in 2004, but this year the county Democrats have provided training for poll watchers, and I've learned a lot I didn't know--that absentee ballots must be posted before the polls open (and we need to cross them off our GOTV lists) and they must be destroyed if the absentee shows up to vote, for one thing. And then there's all the new voting machine procedures. We have an instruction booklet of maybe 20 pages.

The county this year requires that all our poll watcher application forms must go through the county Democratic Party chair, which makes last-minute sign-ups more difficult. Our township is completely covered in all precincts with shifts of poll watchers, outside poll workers, and GOTV callers.

In another precinct in 2004--I didn't see it--the judge of elections got mad about midmorning and quit. Just walked out.

by joyful alternative 2006-11-03 02:28PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: You posted some bad info

In Maryland you are apparently allowed to exit the polling place and speak to a voter outside, then return to resume your poll watching duties. Otherwise, we too have been told that we can't interfere with or even assist the voter.

by 8051FSW 2006-11-03 04:08PM | 0 recs

permalink

Already done!

I'm poll watching at a vote center just outside of downtown Denver on Tuesday. Coloradans, there is still one training session so today is your last chance to sign up to be a CDP poll watcher/election monitor.

by Colorado Luis 2006-11-03 09:31AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Last-Minute Suggestion: BE A POLL WATCHER ON T

From the LA County Clerk:
http://www.lavote.net/VOTER/PDFS/POLL_WA TCHERS.pdf

by giodude 2006-11-03 09:34AM | 0 recs

permalink

This will be my first year

as an election judge.

I took the day off months ago as well, knowing I would want to be participating as either a poll worker or watcher.

Feeling a little pre-emptively bitter about the guy on Thom Hartman's blaming poll workers for systemic problem and the caller to his show who talked about making a citizen's arrest if he runs into a problem with his voting machine.

Thanks for assuming all poll workers are looking to throw the election guys. Not.

by boadicea 2006-11-03 10:40AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: This will be my first year

In Pennsylvania, while inside the poll the election judges have exactly the same authority as an actual judge. You are the ultimate authority. If someone is disruptive, you can toss them right out of the poll and that goes for cops, partisans, poll watchers, other members of your own election board even and on down.

I'd guess the rules are the same or similar where you are.

I'm sure you'll have a great time and will come back with plenty of amazing voter tales. :)

by phillydem 2006-11-03 11:56AM | 0 recs

permalink

Yes, it's the same in Texas

Though I sincerely hope it will remain a strictly theoretical power.

It's simply that the frenzied reporting of problems is big on sensationalism and short on troubleshooting.

by boadicea 2006-11-03 12:18PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Yes, it's the same in Texas

In 2004 I had to throw a voter out of the building because he was being disruptive. He was upset that he was asked to go to a different polling location (his registration card had a different precinct printed on it) and started shouting that we were violating his civil rights.

I offered to let him vote by provisional ballot, or advised him which precinct he needed to go to. He started shouting that I was a racist and that nobody could tell him where to vote. When he started to threaten the staff we had no choice but to call the police.

That was a very awkward situation for me, to actually fight someone over a ballot. I was told afterward that I handled the situation as best I could, but I still don't feel good about it, even two years later.

by MyDD Fan 2006-11-03 02:59PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Last-Minute Suggestion: BE A POLL WATCHER ON T

I'll be a watcher in Leesburg VA this year. My first time volunteering for anything.

by Paradox13 2006-11-03 11:01AM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Last-Minute Suggestion: BE A POLL WATCHER ON T

I'm going to be a poll watcher in upstate New York. This is the second time for me-last time was in West Philly-that was a blast! If you can, volunteer-it really can be a lot of fun

As an attorney, I feel a particular obligation to help ensure that election laws are followed. As a Democrat I understand that one of the fundamental differences between the parties is that Democrats believe that voting is a right. Republicans believe that it is a privilege.

by Kempe 2006-11-03 01:54PM | 0 recs

permalink

Re: Last-Minute Suggestion: BE A POLL WATCHER ON T

I'll be a poll watcher in Maryland. As far as I know one can still join up to assist. The state Democratic party can also use folks with legal background to assist with the observation. If anyone is interested in assisting here contact me at msr1001@sprynet.com and I can get the appropriate contact information here.

I'd also like to encourage folks to write up their experiences do the job. Diaries here at MyDD (or Kos) would be excellent. I've started to write up my experience over on Kos, but if a large number of people would do the same, the information could be stored here and be available for future elections.

by 8051FSW 2006-11-03 04:13PM | 0 recs