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Effective Pollwatching

Learn about the responsibilities of pollwatchers and election judges before, during, and after Election Day. Understand how to establish a rapport and help get out the vote. Discover what to do in case of any problems that arise.

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Effective Pollwatching

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  1. Effective Pollwatching Naperville Township Democratic Organization October 2012

  2. Effective Pollwatching • What Is A Pollwatcher? • Election Judge Responsibilities • Prior to Election Day • Election Day Set-up • Election Day Voting • Pollwatcher Responsibilities • Before the polls open • While the polls are open • After the polls close • What to do if there’s a problem

  3. Effective Pollwatching • What Is A Pollwatcher? • Election Judge Responsibilities • Prior to Election Day • Election Day Set-up • Election Day Voting • Pollwatcher Responsibilities • Before the polls open • While the polls are open • After the polls close • What to do if there’s a problem

  4. What is a pollwatcher? • A registered voter, associated with particular party, candidate, organization, or ballot issue • An observer, ensuring election integrity • Appointed by a candidate or party • Given credentials; one per precinct(Must be surrendered to Election Judges) • Allowed access to the polling location… • During polling location setup • While the polling location is open • After the polling location has closed • Can observe and question; cannot touch * Yellow, under-lined text are key points

  5. What is a Pollwatcher? Establishing a Rapport • Introduce yourself; establish a rapport • Be pleasant • Bring food! • Identify the Democratic Election Judge(s); they are on your side • Do not be confrontational • Ask questions, suggest corrections • Note: election judges may limit the number of pollwatchers present due to overcrowding

  6. What is a Pollwatcher? Helping us Get Out the Vote • Arrive with a list of the precinct’s voters • Ask to sit at or near the signature capture station… (more on that later) • Track who has voted • Report back who has / has not voted • Step out; call voters who have not voted • Remember: no cell phones allowed!

  7. Effective Pollwatching • What Is A Pollwatcher? • Election Judge Responsibilities • Prior to Election Day • Election Day Set-up • Election Day Voting • Pollwatcher Responsibilities • Before the polls open • While the polls are open • After the polls close • What to do if there’s a problem

  8. Election Judge Responsibilities • Ensure a fair election for all eligible voters • Most are trained by the DCEC • All judges equal in authority; majority rule • Technical judge responsible for equipment • “Chain of Custody” • Judges from both parties • Majority based on County Governor votes

  9. Election Judge: Prior to Election Day • Technical judge has picked up sensitive supplies • Election Supply Cabinet of non-sensitive supplies delivered to polling location • Monday night, available judges set-up: • Signs and supplemental materials • 6 voter “stations” • Voting booths (without tabulators/electronics) • ONLY non-sensitive material • Pre-printed applications labeled, if already voted • Sensitive supplies kept with technical judge • Election Supply Cabinet locked and tagged

  10. Effective Pollwatching • What Is A Pollwatcher? • Election Judge Responsibilities • Prior to Election Day • Election Day Set-up • Election Day Voting • Pollwatcher Responsibilities • Before the polls open • While the polls are open • After the polls close • What to do if there’s a problem

  11. Election Judge: Election Day Setup • Judges arrive 5:00-5:15am • Technical Judge has sensitive supplies • Judges take/sign oath & certificate of inspection • Election Supply Cabinet: unlocked/untagged • Polling location set-up with 6 “stations”… • Voter applications • Signature Verification • Ballot Issuance • Voting Booths • Ballot Box/Tabulator • Voter Assistance “Ask ED” (usually technical judge) • NO Electioneering • Polls open EXACTLY at 6:00am

  12. Election Judge: Election Day SetupVoter Application Station • Two judges • Poll record binders of all alphabetized pre-printed voter applications

  13. Election Judge: Election Day SetupSignature Verification Station • Two judges (1 from each party)

  14. Election Judge: Election Day SetupBallot Issuance • ALL paper ballots unpacked and available • Different ballot types based on districts • Regular, full ballots for normal cases • Federal ballots for fail-safe voting • Compare ballot types with posted signs • Express poll… • For touch-screen voting • Writes memory card given to voter for voting • Two judges

  15. Election Judge: Election Day SetupVoting Booths • Set-up with privacy considerations • Empty and signed (no graffiti) • At least one accessible voting booth • Touch screen voting machine set-up and operational • Verify displayed polling location

  16. Election Judge: Election Day SetupBallot Box / Tabulator • Ensure judges verify it is still empty • Tabulator added and activated • Verify “zero-tape” is produced, contains all zeroes, and is signed by all judges • Tabulator is locked • Technical judge has key • One judge assigned to watch ballot box

  17. Election Judge: Election Day SetupVoter Assistance (“Ask ED”) • Pollwatcher administration • Election judge guide • All affidavits for special cases • Provisional ballots • List of all registered voters • Cell phone for DCEC use • 1 judge (usually technical judge)

  18. Election Judge: Election Day SetupElectioneering • Safe zone: 100’ from room entrance • If zone within building, judges can elect to make entire building safe zone. • Safe zone must be signed • NO candidate, party, issue promotion… • (buttons, badges, shirts, caps, stickers, signs, handouts, etc.) • Outside building is fair game • Exception: churches and private schools(if they so elect and inform judges)

  19. Effective Pollwatching • What Is A Pollwatcher? • Election Judge Responsibilities • Prior to Election Day • Election Day Set-up • Election Day Voting • Pollwatcher Responsibilities • Before the polls open • While the polls are open • After the polls close • What to do if there’s a problem

  20. Election Judge: Election DayVoter Application Station • Judge asks voter for name and address • Must be audible for pollwatcher to hear • Asking for ID not allowed • Exception: Application says “Registered by mail” • If signature not readable: new signature capture • Judge finds application; voter signs • Any problem: directed to voter assistance

  21. Election Judge: Election DaySignature Verification Station • Both judges verify signature, and initial • Any problem: directed to voter assistance

  22. Election Judge: Election DaySignature Verification Station: CHALLENGES • Any voter, judge, or pollwatcher can challenge a voter’s right to vote. • Must state the reason to the judges(moved, qualifications, already voted, etc.) • Judges decide; majority rules • If challenge denied, voter can vote • If challenge upheld, voter directed to voter assistance station

  23. Election Judge: Election DayBallot Issuance • Judge(s) ensure application is initialed • Asks voter for preferred voting process: • Paper • Electronic touch-screen • Directed to Express Poll judge

  24. Election Judge: Election DayBallot Issuance – PAPER ballot • Judge selects ballot matching ballot type indicated on pre-printed application • Judge initials ballot with red pen • Judge numbers and files application • Judge gives receipt to voter • Judge gives ballot to voter and offers a paper privacy cover • Directs voter to vacant voting booth

  25. Election Judge: Election DayBallot Issuance – ELECTRONIC ballot • Judge issues voter card based on ballot type indicated on pre-printed application • Judge gives memory card to voter • Directs voter to electronic touch-screen machine

  26. Election Judge: Election DayVoting Booths / Ballot Box • Paper ballot voters directed to ballot box • Spoiled ballot can be re-issued • Judge verifies ballot is initialed in red • Judge does not touch ballot without voter’s permission • Only voter inserts ballot into ballot reader • Touch-screen voter returns voter card

  27. Election Judge: Election DayVoter Assistance • All non-normal issues resolved here • DCEC contact/help very common • Proper affidavit completed/filed • Military • Address change / registration • Name change • Fail-safe federal ballots • Assisted voter • Provisional voting

  28. Effective Pollwatching • What Is A Pollwatcher? • Election Judge Responsibilities • Prior to Election Day • Election Day Set-up • Election Day Voting  Closing • Pollwatcher Responsibilities • Before the polls open • While the polls are open • After the polls close • What to do if there’s a problem

  29. Election Judge: Election Day Closing • Judges will start closing 6:00-7:00pm • Any voter in line at 7:00pm allowed to vote • Judges will divide and conquer • Order of closing not as important as every step being done • All judges have to sign all sensitive materials • Typical closing time: 60-90 minutes • One judge from each party returns materials(if student judge, must be registered)

  30. Election Judge: Election Day Closing • Paper ballots… • Check auxiliary ballot box compartment • Record number of paper ballots tabulated • Spoiled ballots sealed • Poll record binders sealed • Ender card used to close election

  31. Election Judge: Election Day Closing • Paper ballots… • Tabulate/print 4 copies of paper ballot results(Pollwatcher(s) can request additional copy) • Memory card removed  into pouch • Voted ballots removed and hand counted • Voted ballots secured • Write-in votes manually tabulated • All voted ballots sealed and signed

  32. Election Judge: Election Day Closing • Electronic / Touch-screen ballots… • Supervisor card / PIN used to end voting • 3 copies of electronic ballot results printed(Pollwatcher(s) can request additional copy) • Memory card removed  into pouch • All voting hardware disassembled • Provisional ballots sealed and signed • Official ballot record completed & signed

  33. Election Judge: Election Day Closing • One copy of printed results tape from each machine posted at polling location • Non-sensitive supplies sealed in Election Supply Cabinet • Sensitive supplies returned to DCEC in blue rolling bag • Memory cards hand-carried back to DCEC by Technical Judge and one judge from opposite party

  34. Effective Pollwatching • What Is A Pollwatcher? • Election Judge Responsibilities • Prior to Election Day • Election Day Set-up • Election Day Voting  Closing • Pollwatcher Responsibilities • Before the polls open • While the polls are open • After the polls close • What to do if there’s a problem

  35. Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the Polls Open • Did all judges arrive by 5:15am? • Did the Technical Judge have the sensitive supplies? • Was the Election Supply Cabinet sealed? • Did the seal number match what was recorded the previous night? • Were the pre-printed applications for those having already voted labeled? (green labels) • Did all judges take/sign the oath?

  36. Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the Polls Open • Was the “NO Electioneering” zone identified? • Were all ballots unpacked and available • Were the ballot types correct? • Were the voting booths private and empty?

  37. Pollwatcher Responsibilities Before the Polls Open • Was the ballot box verified to be empty? • Did all judges sign the “zero” tape? • Was the tabulator locked? • Were provisional ballots readied? • Did the polls open exactly at 6:00am?

  38. Effective Pollwatching • What Is A Pollwatcher? • Election Judge Responsibilities • Prior to Election Day • Election Day Set-up • Election Day Voting  Closing • Pollwatcher Responsibilities • Before the polls open • While the polls are open • After the polls close • What to do if there’s a problem

  39. Pollwatcher Responsibilities When the Polls Open • Can you hear the name of the voter? • Are ID’s illegally being required? • Are any challenges handled properly? • Are voters being harassed or intimidated? • Are both signature judges initialing the application? • Is the ballot judge asking the voter to confirm the correct ballot style? • Is the ballot judge initialing ballot with a red pen?

  40. Pollwatcher Responsibilities When the Polls Open • Is the ballot judge reminding voters to vote both sides of the ballot? • Is the ballot judge offering the voter a privacy cover? • Is the ballot box judge verifying that that the voted ballot is initialed in red? • Is the voter allowed to insert their own ballot privately in to the ballot box? • Is the voter assistance judge allowing voters to vote provisionally?

  41. Pollwatcher Responsibilities When the Polls Open • Helping the NTDO… • Track voters on your list of precinct voters • Follow-up… either: • Leave the polling location and call voters who have not yet voted. Remind them of the importance. • …or… • Hand off your list to your partner and get a new list. Your partner will call the voters. • Offer rides if someone needs one

  42. Effective Pollwatching • What Is A Pollwatcher? • Election Judge Responsibilities • Prior to Election Day • Election Day Set-up • Election Day Voting  Closing • Pollwatcher Responsibilities • Before the polls open • While the polls are open • After the polls close • What to do if there’s a problem

  43. Pollwatcher Responsibilities After the Polls Close • Did the polls close exactly at 7:00pm? • Were voters allowed to vote if in line? • Was the auxiliary compartment of the ballot box checked? • Were the memory cards removed and placed in the memory card pouch? • Were provisional ballots sealed and signed? • Were write-in votes identified and separated for return to the Election Commission?

  44. Pollwatcher Responsibilities After the Polls Close • Were the voted paper ballots hand-counted and recorded on the official ballot record? (new this year) • Was the official ballot record completed and signed by all judges? • Were result tapes posted in the polling place? • Did you receive a copy of the result tape if you requested one? • Were all materials locked and sealed in the Election Supply Cabinet, or returned in the rolling blue bag or memory card pouch?

  45. Effective Pollwatching • What Is A Pollwatcher? • Election Judge Responsibilities • Prior to Election Day • Election Day Set-up • Election Day Voting  Closing • Pollwatcher Responsibilities • Before the polls open • While the polls are open • After the polls close • What to do if there’s a problem

  46. How to Handle Problems • Record observations, issues, names, times, … • Politely point out concerns; enquire • Insist on corrective action if needed • Call the Election Commission (630-407-5600) • Remain at the polling location until help arrives • For serious problems, call the police • Aurora: 630-627-3100 • Naperville: 630-420-6666 • For an emergency, call 9-1-1

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