What do Poll Observers do? How does that work?

[Philosoraptor]

Are poll observers there to see that everything goes smoothly basically? Do they take complaints on an official level? How does one become a poll observer, if that is the correct title?

I've seen several people here who plan on being poll worker observers next week and it got me curious.

[liberal N proud]

1. If everything goes well, it is a pretty boring day

The whole premise of the observer is to watch and observe the distribution of ballots and the voting process in the polling place to insure that everyone who wants to vote gets to vote. Even if the voter is voted on a provisional ballot, everyone that enters the polling place and is legal to vote, they should be allowed to vote.
Your job as an observer is just to report any instance of inappropriate behavior or actions with regards to the voting process.

[grizmaster]

2. poll observers and poll workers are 2 different things

Poll observers usually work for a party and sit outside the official polling area and keep track of who has voted so get out the vote efforts can target voters that haven't voted yet that day.

Poll workers, work the actual election process. To do that it usually only takes a call to your local board of canvassers. However, this late in the game you might have already missed some training session that might be required.

To be a poll observer you could contact the local dem party and ask them if they want help in that area. Also, any citizen who wants is allowed to be a poll observer for their own purposes.

[Philosoraptor]

3. Do they participate in vote counting or sorting?

Do they have to declare a party affiliation?

[Squeech]

4. I didn't

I only did it this once-- my bench-warmer state senator died suddenly, there was a special election to replace him, and I had a favorite candidate. This candidate had an organized ground game, and had developed a list of supporters. My task as poll observer was to sit behind the front desk, where the voters walk in and announce themselves to the actual poll workers, who check their name and address on the master list and confirm that the voter is in fact eligible to vote. My task was to check each voter's name and address against our list of supporters and check off the ones that showed up, and also keep a running tally of how many of our people voted as well as how many people voted overall.

In the last hour I was pulled off that task and sent to ring some doorbells of known supporters that hadn't yet voted, which was one of the reasons to do this in the first place. Another reason was to get a feel for how the vote was going over the course of the day-- it's cheaper than exit polls.

[moobu2]

5. No, watchers don’t participate in the voting process

They mostly serve as witnesses and observers. I was a watcher once and was told I couldn’t make a big issue of who to vote for or do any campaigning and so forth. I did wear a Clinton/Gore button though.

[grizmaster]

6. In RI there is no campaigning allowed in the polling place

so observers would have to remove any buttons, and you can't hand out any literature.

[Chiyo-chichi]

8. I thought that was the case everywhere (no campaign materials or buttons in the polling place)

It's considered electioneering. I was in line to vote in Indiana in '88 and was told to remove my Dukakis button.

[grizmaster]

11. Voters are allowed to wear anything they want

they can also carry in election flyers or any written material they wish.

BUT if you aren't voting (this could mean just carrying on a conversation too long after voting) you can't have on buttons or distribute any materials that would be considered electioneering within a certain distance (usually 50 ft but varies).

So next time you're voting and someone asks you to take off your button just tell them to bugger off and brush up on the law.

[Chiyo-chichi]

12. I think Indiana code is more restrictive.

IC 3-14-3-16
Electioneering
Sec. 16. (a) As used in this section, "electioneering" includes
expressing support or opposition to any candidate or political party or expressing approval or disapproval of any public question in any manner that could reasonably be expected to convey that support or opposition to another individual. The term does not include expressing support or opposition to a candidate or a political party or expressing approval or disapproval of a public question in:
(1) material mailed to a voter; or
(2) a telephone or an electronic communication with a voter.
(b) A person who knowingly does any electioneering:
(1) on election day within:
(A) the polls; or
(B) the chute;
(2) within an area in the office of the circuit court clerk or a satellite office of the circuit court clerk established under IC 3-11-10-26.3 used by an absentee voter board to permit an individual to cast an absentee ballot; or
(3) except for a voter who is:
(A) the person's spouse;
(B) an incapacitated person (as defined in IC 29-3-1-7.5) for whom the person has been appointed the guardian (as defined in IC 29-3-1-6); or
(C) a member of the person's household;
in the presence of a voter whom the person knows possesses an absentee ballot provided to the voter in accordance with Indiana law; commits a Class A misdemeanor.

I'm not gonna argue with them. I interpret this to mean that I can't express support for any candidate on election day within the polling place.

[grizmaster]

13. That refers to people doing electioneering of others

It doesn't refer to the voters themselves.

Now if a voter decides to start yelling out for others to support his candidate that would cross the line.

But again, this all varies from state to state, so your comment mmay very well reflect local interpretation.

[grizmaster]

7. Observers only participate passively

They're there to see that poll workers are following the rules. They don't have to declare what party they're working for either. Some observers are working groups that are backing or opposing particular referendum questions.

[notadmblnd]

9. I monitered 2004 with Electionprotection.org

there were attorneys on site and basically it was my job to make sure that people who wanted to vote recieved the opportunity and report any problems to them. I spent the day performing various duties. Picking up old people and taking them to the polls, I drove to the polls and handed out coffee and bagles to other poll workers and worked with a woman who had been given the run around (sent to 3 different precints to vote) and an attorney to get her location straightened out. I had a grat day doing it. Even took my son out of school to accompany me. I'd do it again.

[leftofthedial]

10. make sure all goes as it should

count voters and report turnout to HQ to assist GOTV efforts

make sure poll is run properly

stand there impotently while repuke precinct worker hits the magic Diebold button to ensure the outcome desired by the fascists