What are they complaining about "poll watches and observers?"

[question everything]

I voted early, but previously I would get the ballot with a cover, fill it, cover it and then remove the cover just as I would feed it to the scanner. Yes, I suppose the person at the machine could glance at it, perhaps even concentrate on a specific race but otherwise the ballots are supposed to be secret but what would they like their "observers and watchers" to do?

That first guest at Bill Maher and, boy, he did try to be patient, kept haranguing about those poll watchers and observers.

[drray23]

1. those poll watchers observe voting and counting

to look for irregularities. they dont look at whom you voted for. They instead look at things like people disturbing the vote. During counting they observe how its carried out. Watchers from both parties.

[question everything]

2. Thanks. Have there ever been cases where people were distubring the voters?

Except for four years ago when Trump was watching over Melania as both were standing side by side..

I would think that people stand in line until called to the next table where it is confirmed that they are registered - may be different for same day registration - then get their ballot and sent to a cubicle..

[better]

3. Speaking from the cuff here, so take with a grain of salt, but...

my impression is that it's mostly a bunch of bullshit, coming from the top. I believe observers generally have to be certified, and as tRump's lawyers have admitted in court, observers from both parties were actually in the rooms, observing. Furthermore, in at least some states, the entire counting operation was televised live, for the whole world to watch.

What I think they're really bitching about is all the (below) average (intelligence) citizens who heard and heeded tRump's call at the first debate for people to go to the polls and watch closely. I'm betting that most of the outrage is actually over people not being allowed in as "observers" precisely because they weren't certified as observers in the first place, but rather were just random idiots looking to cause trouble, who think they're entitled to be allowed in as observers just because they call themselves one.

[SharonClark]

4. I was a certified poll watcher for the Dems

and my purpose was to report any irregularities and discuss with the head poll worker if I saw a problem.

That meant that my real job was to guarantee every eligible voter got to vote a regular ballot.

The poll workers were well trained and did their job honestly and fairly so there was nothing to report. That’s how it should be.