I have been asked to be a "poll counter" for the election...advice?

[Raven]

This request comes from SwingtheVote which is a group I have been working for. I guess the idea is that you go sit at the poll and listen to people giving their names to the election officials as they go to vote. You then check your list (a list that is the result of canvassing) and you cross their name off. The people not crossed off get a phone call later in the day.

A couple of things about this bother me... I feel as if I am invaiding peoples' privacy and I don't see how the local election officials will let me sit there all day. My real concern is the invaision of privacy issue.

I would be most grateful for your thoughts on this!

[movonne]

1. They don't have to answer the question!!!! but this is what it has

come to when the elections are fixed...

[NWHarkness]

2. Voting is not a private act

The contents of a person's vote is secret, but whether they vote or not is a matter of public record.

[gristy]

3. If the election officials let you do it, then don't worry

about the privacy issue. But I'd be surprised if the election folks would let you "loiter" within the polling site.

[Shoeempress]

8. Most states have regulations which require them to "allow" this.

Check the regulations and or statutes regarding poll monitoring

[cheshire]

4. Most people will be glad to answer your questions. Don't worry and if they

think it's legal the officials can't complain. Invasion of privacy is not an issue on the street. May I ask what state. I think after Fl. this is needed.

[Raven]

9. I'm in New Hampshire

the "Live Free or Die" state and a battleground!

[ibegurpard]

5. I have done this before

And the election people at the tables were extremely helpful. You're not invading anyone's privacy...voter rolls are public information and it's not like you're actually going in the booth with them to see how they vote...campaigns do this all the time. The people that come up to vote have no idea that you're not part of the official election process.

[Uzybone]

6. I'm guessing they agreed to be called

if they gave their names as part of the canvassing drive.

[DebJ]

7. I am looking for people to help me do this for the Democrats

in my precinct. Believe it or not, people actually genuinely forget to vote....

[Dilligent]

10. Voter list

When I worked the polls we were given 2 identical computer lists of voters & when they voted one of the workers checked off their name. The 1st list was to be hung on the wall at 11 am & the second at 3 pm so that people could come in and check to see who had voted for the express purpose of contacting the ones that hadn't in time to get them in before the polls closed. Each precinct had these. I don't think anyone was allowed to sit there but the lists could be checked periodically.

[LiberalFighter]

11. Do they want a call later if they are on the list?

If they vote and you cross their name off the list they won't (shouldn't) get a call from the GOTV.

Voters are/should be use to having someone ask for their name at the polling place.

The only hitch might be if there are pollbook watchers from groups not included by state law.

[shrdlu]

12. Be sure to get clear instructions...

...from the people who are recruiting you and follow those instructions. But...don't be placed in a position where you may be violating election law. The rules are published. Find them and read them. Look up the local elections supervisor and/or a senior party official. You could find yourself the best informed person at the polls.

Huge amounts of misinformation floats around...some of it wrong and some launched for nefarious reasons.

Don't worry about invasion of privacy in a polling place. The fact of voting is a public record.

Show up early at the polls. Introduce yourself and present any credentials you have been furnished. You may be sworn in along with the election workers. Find a good vantage purpose and do your work.

Don't be argumentative or obnoxious and take good notes of what happened.

Congratulations on being selected to do your bit for democracy.