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 />
S<strong>at</strong>ISFaCtory<br />
It is good th<strong>at</strong> Nevada does<br />
not permit photographing or<br />
recording within <strong>the</strong> polling<br />
area. There is a design<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
area beyond which w<strong>at</strong>chers<br />
may not pass, which helps<br />
protect voter privacy, and<br />
<strong>the</strong> form th<strong>at</strong> observers must<br />
sign also contains a number<br />
of strong voter protections.<br />
Especially good are <strong>the</strong><br />
explicit prohibition against<br />
interfering with <strong>the</strong> conduct<br />
of elections and <strong>the</strong> authority<br />
to remove observers who<br />
viol<strong>at</strong>e <strong>the</strong> rules.<br />
Nevada could improve its<br />
laws by limiting <strong>the</strong> number<br />
of individuals who are permitted<br />
to observe <strong>the</strong> conduct<br />
of voting.<br />
Members of <strong>the</strong> general public are not<br />
permitted to photograph <strong>the</strong> conduct of<br />
voting <strong>at</strong> a polling place, nor may <strong>the</strong>y make<br />
audio or video recordings of photograph <strong>the</strong><br />
conduct of voting.<br />
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.274(2)<br />
Before any person will be permitted to observe<br />
<strong>the</strong> conduct of voting, he or she must<br />
sign a form st<strong>at</strong>ing th<strong>at</strong>, during <strong>the</strong> conduct<br />
of voting, <strong>the</strong> person:<br />
• may not talk to voters within <strong>the</strong> polling<br />
place;<br />
• may not use a mobile phone or computer<br />
within <strong>the</strong> polling place;<br />
• may not advoc<strong>at</strong>e for or against a candid<strong>at</strong>e,<br />
political party or ballot question;<br />
• may not argue for or against or challenge<br />
any decisions made by county election<br />
personnel;<br />
• may not interfere with <strong>the</strong> conduct of voting;<br />
and<br />
• may be removed from <strong>the</strong> polling place by<br />
<strong>the</strong> county clerk for viol<strong>at</strong>ing <strong>the</strong> election<br />
laws or any of <strong>the</strong> above.<br />
NEV. ADMIN. CODE § 293.245<br />
The county clerk shall allow members<br />
of <strong>the</strong> general public to observe <strong>the</strong> conduct<br />
of voting <strong>at</strong> a polling place.<br />
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.274(1)<br />
The general public does not include anyone<br />
who: g<strong>at</strong>hers inform<strong>at</strong>ion for communic<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
to <strong>the</strong> public, is employed<br />
by or contracted with <strong>the</strong> press, or is<br />
acting solely within his or her professional<br />
capacity.<br />
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.274(3)<br />
neVada Members of <strong>the</strong> general public are<br />
allowed to observe <strong>the</strong> conduct of<br />
voting <strong>at</strong> a polling place.<br />
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.274(1)<br />
A person observing <strong>the</strong> conduct of voting <strong>at</strong><br />
a polling place may remain in an area design<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
by <strong>the</strong> chair of <strong>the</strong> election board to<br />
observe <strong>the</strong> activities conducted <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> polling<br />
place without interfering with <strong>the</strong> voting.<br />
The design<strong>at</strong>ed area must allow for meaningful<br />
observ<strong>at</strong>ion, but must not be loc<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
in an area th<strong>at</strong> would allow an observer to<br />
infringe on <strong>the</strong> privacy and confidentiality of<br />
<strong>the</strong> ballot of <strong>the</strong> voter.<br />
NEV. ADMIN. CODE § 293.245 (6)<br />
46 • aPPendIx 3 | St<strong>at</strong>e Laws Governing Poll W<strong>at</strong>chers and Poll Observers