Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
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aSSeSSment:<br />
are VoterS ProteCted?<br />
PermItted and ProhIBIted ConduCt<br />
By Poll W<strong>at</strong>CherS and oBSerVerS<br />
ProCedureS For deSIgn<strong>at</strong>Ing<br />
Poll W<strong>at</strong>CherS and oBSerVerS<br />
Who IS elIgIBle to SerVe aS<br />
a W<strong>at</strong>Cher or oBSerVer?<br />
St<strong>at</strong>e<br />
mIxed<br />
It is good th<strong>at</strong> only a limited<br />
number of w<strong>at</strong>chers are permitted<br />
in <strong>the</strong> polling place <strong>at</strong><br />
any time, th<strong>at</strong> photography<br />
is prohibited, and th<strong>at</strong> poll<br />
w<strong>at</strong>chers must be approved<br />
by <strong>the</strong> supervisor of <strong>the</strong> elections<br />
before Election Day.<br />
Florida law could be improved<br />
by having stronger<br />
restrictions on poll w<strong>at</strong>cher<br />
behavior, such as prohibiting<br />
w<strong>at</strong>chers in <strong>the</strong> voting area,<br />
and prohibiting communic<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
with voters. Election<br />
officials should have explicit<br />
authority to eject w<strong>at</strong>chers<br />
who interfere with <strong>the</strong> orderly<br />
conduct of <strong>the</strong> election.<br />
Each political party and each candid<strong>at</strong>e is<br />
permitted to have one w<strong>at</strong>cher <strong>at</strong> a time in<br />
each polling room or early voting area during<br />
<strong>the</strong> election.<br />
FLA. STAT. § 101.131<br />
All poll w<strong>at</strong>chers must be allowed to enter<br />
and w<strong>at</strong>ch polls in all polling rooms and<br />
early voting areas within <strong>the</strong> county in which<br />
<strong>the</strong>y have been design<strong>at</strong>ed, but only if <strong>the</strong><br />
number of poll w<strong>at</strong>chers <strong>at</strong> any polling place<br />
does not exceed <strong>the</strong> number provided in this<br />
section.<br />
FLA. STAT. § 101.131<br />
No photography is permitted in <strong>the</strong> polling<br />
room or early voting area.<br />
FLA. STAT. § 102.031<br />
Law enforcement officers or candid<strong>at</strong>es<br />
may not serve as a design<strong>at</strong>ed poll<br />
w<strong>at</strong>cher.<br />
FLA. STAT. § 101.131<br />
Each party, political committee, and<br />
candid<strong>at</strong>e may design<strong>at</strong>e poll w<strong>at</strong>chers<br />
for each polling room on Election Day.<br />
The design<strong>at</strong>ion must be in writing, on<br />
an official form, submitted before <strong>the</strong><br />
second Tuesday preceding <strong>the</strong> election.<br />
Poll w<strong>at</strong>chers must be approved by <strong>the</strong><br />
supervisor of elections on or before <strong>the</strong><br />
Tuesday before <strong>the</strong> election.<br />
FLA. STAT. § 101.131<br />
FlorIda Each poll w<strong>at</strong>cher must be a<br />
qualified and registered elector<br />
of <strong>the</strong> county in which she is appointed.<br />
FLA. STAT. § 101.131<br />
mIxed<br />
It is good th<strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong>re are<br />
specific processes for ejecting<br />
challengers and w<strong>at</strong>chers<br />
who interfere with <strong>the</strong> orderly<br />
process of voting.<br />
Missouri could streng<strong>the</strong>n its<br />
laws by clearly prohibiting<br />
photography or recording<br />
voters and by more explicitly<br />
defining a space where voters<br />
may not be observed or communic<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
with.<br />
Laws governing those individuals who observe<br />
<strong>the</strong> counting of <strong>the</strong> vote can be loc<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
<strong>at</strong> MO. REV. STAT. §§ 115.107; 115.085.<br />
If any w<strong>at</strong>cher or challenger interferes with<br />
<strong>the</strong> orderly process of voting, or is guilty of<br />
misconduct or any law viol<strong>at</strong>ion, <strong>the</strong> election<br />
judges shall ask <strong>the</strong> w<strong>at</strong>cher or challenger<br />
to leave <strong>the</strong> polling place or cease <strong>the</strong><br />
interference. If <strong>the</strong> interference continues,<br />
<strong>the</strong> election judges shall notify <strong>the</strong> election<br />
authority, which shall take such action as it<br />
deems necessary. It shall be <strong>the</strong> duty of <strong>the</strong><br />
police, if requested by <strong>the</strong> election authority<br />
or judges of election, to exclude any<br />
w<strong>at</strong>cher or challenger from <strong>the</strong> polling place<br />
or <strong>the</strong> place where votes are being counted.<br />
If any challenger is excluded, ano<strong>the</strong>r may<br />
be substituted by <strong>the</strong> design<strong>at</strong>ing committee<br />
chairman.<br />
MO. REV. STAT. § 115.111<br />
Prior to <strong>the</strong> close of <strong>the</strong> polls, challengers<br />
may list and give out <strong>the</strong> names of those<br />
who have voted. The listing and giving<br />
out of names of those who have voted by<br />
a challenger shall not be considered giving<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion tending to show <strong>the</strong> st<strong>at</strong>e of <strong>the</strong><br />
count.<br />
MO. REV. STAT. § 115.105<br />
Laws governing those individuals who<br />
observe <strong>the</strong> counting of <strong>the</strong> vote can be<br />
loc<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>at</strong> MO. REV. STAT.<br />
§§ 115.107; 115.085.<br />
mISSourI In Missouri, <strong>the</strong> term ‘w<strong>at</strong>cher’<br />
refers only to individuals who<br />
observe <strong>the</strong> counting of votes and<br />
not those individuals who are in<br />
<strong>the</strong> polling place on election day.<br />
See MO. REV. STAT.<br />
§§ 115.107(4); 115.085<br />
Missouri does permit individuals<br />
who have been design<strong>at</strong>ed as<br />
challengers in <strong>the</strong> polling place on<br />
Election Day.<br />
See Appendix 1.<br />
45 • aPPendIx 3 | St<strong>at</strong>e Laws Governing Poll W<strong>at</strong>chers and Poll Observers