IPSecure
02-03-2008, 02:31 PM
Poll Watcher Rules, from Texas...
Keep in mind I had to go to the 'WayBack Machine' to find this, and other relevant information... Go figure!
STATUS AS A POLL WATCHER
1. It is the statutory right of each candidate and each political party to appoint poll watchers. Each candidate as well as the GOP county chairman may appoint as many as two watchers per precinct polling place. Poll watchers cannot be turned away on Election Day because there is already a republican watcher at the precinct. (TEC Sec. 33.002(a); TEC Sec. 33.003(a); TEC Sec. 33.007)
2. Poll watchers must be a resident of the county in which they serve, but they need not be a resident of the precinct. (TEC Sec. 33.031(a))
3. Poll watchers must be present at the polling place when the polls open. He or she should be there at 6:30 a.m.!! A watcher that serves for more than five continuous hours may serve at the polling place during the hours the watcher chooses, except that if the watcher is present at the polling place when ballots are counted, the watcher may not leave until the counting is complete. ( TEC Sec. 33.052(a))
4. Poll watchers must request permission from the election judge to leave the polling place; however any courtesy extended to clerks (such as restroom privileges and meals) must also be granted to poll watchers. (TEC Sec. 33.054(b))
5. If a poll watcher leaves the polling place before polls close without the election judge’s permission, the election judge may legally refuse to readmit the watcher.
6. A poll watcher must be permitted to observe all election activities. (TEC Sec. 33.056(a)) Further, poll watchers are entitled to sit or stand near enough to the member of the counting team who is announcing the votes to verify that the ballots are read correctly or to a member who is tallying the votes to verify that they are tallied correctly. (TEC Sec. 33.056(b))
7. A poll watcher may NOT speak to voters. Poll watchers may speak to one another, to the election judge and clerks, however, in matters regarding the election while the election is in progress, poll watchers are restricted to pointing out violations. (TEC Sec. 33.058)
8. Poll watchers are entitled by law to accompany election officials to the courthouse or the central counting station. (TEC Sec. 33.060)
:cool:
Keep in mind I had to go to the 'WayBack Machine' to find this, and other relevant information... Go figure!
STATUS AS A POLL WATCHER
1. It is the statutory right of each candidate and each political party to appoint poll watchers. Each candidate as well as the GOP county chairman may appoint as many as two watchers per precinct polling place. Poll watchers cannot be turned away on Election Day because there is already a republican watcher at the precinct. (TEC Sec. 33.002(a); TEC Sec. 33.003(a); TEC Sec. 33.007)
2. Poll watchers must be a resident of the county in which they serve, but they need not be a resident of the precinct. (TEC Sec. 33.031(a))
3. Poll watchers must be present at the polling place when the polls open. He or she should be there at 6:30 a.m.!! A watcher that serves for more than five continuous hours may serve at the polling place during the hours the watcher chooses, except that if the watcher is present at the polling place when ballots are counted, the watcher may not leave until the counting is complete. ( TEC Sec. 33.052(a))
4. Poll watchers must request permission from the election judge to leave the polling place; however any courtesy extended to clerks (such as restroom privileges and meals) must also be granted to poll watchers. (TEC Sec. 33.054(b))
5. If a poll watcher leaves the polling place before polls close without the election judge’s permission, the election judge may legally refuse to readmit the watcher.
6. A poll watcher must be permitted to observe all election activities. (TEC Sec. 33.056(a)) Further, poll watchers are entitled to sit or stand near enough to the member of the counting team who is announcing the votes to verify that the ballots are read correctly or to a member who is tallying the votes to verify that they are tallied correctly. (TEC Sec. 33.056(b))
7. A poll watcher may NOT speak to voters. Poll watchers may speak to one another, to the election judge and clerks, however, in matters regarding the election while the election is in progress, poll watchers are restricted to pointing out violations. (TEC Sec. 33.058)
8. Poll watchers are entitled by law to accompany election officials to the courthouse or the central counting station. (TEC Sec. 33.060)
:cool: