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Quick

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Poll Watchers

Helping America Vote

About the Quick Start Guides: The EAC's Quick Start Guides are intended to familiarize local election officials with various topics

they will likely encounter in election administration. The guides are a starting point to identify areas of concern and give officials a

broad idea of factors they should consider in approaching a given topic.

What is a Poll Watcher?

Each state defines the role of a poll watcher differently. Poll watchers (watchers) are

typically individuals appointed to observe a portion of the elections process. Often, political

parties, candidates, or issue groups supporting or opposing a ballot measure are permitted

to appoint watchers. Election officials should familiarize themselves with their state's laws

and procedures for watchers, including who is eligible to be a watcher and how they become

one. Below are a few ideas to educate watchers on their role in the election process and

give watchers insight into how election officials uphold the integrity of the vote. 

Poll watchers are frequently

called observers or

challengers,

depending on the

jurisdiction.

General Considerations

Communicate with groups who appoint watchers. Notify them of important deadlines and dates, available

resources or training, rules (highlighting any recent changes), and provide appointment forms (if necessary).

Designate an area for watchers when laying out polling places and areas where absentee ballot processing,

audits, canvassing, and recounts will occur. Ensure watchers can observe all procedures, as applicable.

Provide training for watchers and include information about watchers during poll worker training.

Designate a staff member to serve as a point of contact for any questions or concerns watchers have while

observing the election.

Polling Places

Provide watchers with a badge to wear, a list of the rules they must follow, and contact information for the

elections office.

Notify poll workers of the name of any watcher who may observe their location.

Invite appointed watchers to attend poll worker training.

Central Ballot Processing

Provide watchers with written procedures to be followed while processing ballots (e.g., ballot duplication and

adjudication procedures and the process for resolving non-matching signatures or other identifying

information). Include information about key staff and describe their role in each process.

Allow watchers to view all public data needed to understand the process they are observing.

Canvass, Certification, Audits, and Recounts

Official

Canvass

Provide watchers with a schedule of activities.

Identify key staff and describe their role in the process.

Allow watchers to inspect chain of custody and

reconciliation documents.

Explain how ballots and election materials are secured

throughout the process.

Protect PII

Allowing third parties to observe election

processes promotes transparency and

fosters trust, but elections officials must

ensure voters' personally identifiable

information (PII) remains private.

May 1, 2022 v. 1.0 EAC | Helping America Vote

eac.gov clearinghouse@eac.gov @EACgov @eacgov1 @us.eac