State Laws on Authorized Poll Watchers & Voter Challenges

[KY_EnviroGuy]

Best to get our info straight from the horse's mouth:

National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS)

State Laws on Authorized Poll Watchers & Voter Challenges

Link (to access PDF file): https://www.nass.org/resources/2018-election-information/Poll-Watchers-Voter-Challenges

Direct link to PDF: http://www.nass.org/sites/default/files/surveys/2020-01/state-laws-poll-watchers-challengers-Jan2020.pdf

Someone please correct me if I misunderstand but I believe "poll watcher" does not mean someone stationed at a voting place during voting, but instead means a person from each party appointed to observe counting of votes after poll closure.

I believe some states have laws that prohibit anyone from being at a voting location that is not a.) someone who is actively in the process of voting, or b.) an official poll worker.

For most states, those rules are spelled out in their laws that prohibit electioneering in or near voting locations:

State Laws on Electioneering Boundaries

See: https://www.nass.org/resources/2018-election-information/electioneering-boundaries

Direct link to PDF: http://www.nass.org/sites/default/files/surveys/2020-01/state-laws-polling-place-electioneering-Jan2020.pdf

Example (Alabama):

Except as electors are admitted to vote and persons to assist them as herein provided, and except for the judge of probate, the sheriff, or his or her deputy, the precinct election officials, and watchers, no person shall be permitted within 30 feet of the door of the building of the polling place.

It's increasingly obvious that tRump, his staff and his minions have no idea what a poll watcher really is.


KY......

[TomSlick]

1. A poll watcher in Arkansas, designated in a writing by the candidate filed with the county clerk,

is allowed to observe a voter signing-in to vote to verify that voters are qualified to vote in the venue.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

2. K&R. That could become quite chaotic if.....

several candidates appointed observers, all standing around breathing down voter's necks.

I wonder if they are authorized to request I.D. from voters.

KY

[TomSlick]

3. I've never seen more than one or two poll watchers.

The poll watchers may not request an ID but they can observe the poll worker checking the ID. At this point, a poll watcher may not stand close enough to actually see the ID. Poll workers in Arkansas as usually just observing for obvious chicanery - people voting twice, etc.