Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos

aSSeSSment:
are VoterS ProteCted?
PermItted and ProhIBIted ConduCt
By Poll WatCherS and oBSerVerS
ProCedureS For deSIgnatIng
Poll WatCherS and oBSerVerS
Who IS elIgIBle to SerVe aS
a WatCher or oBSerVer?
State
SatISFaCtory
It is good that Nevada does
not permit photographing or
recording within the polling
area. There is a designated
area beyond which watchers
may not pass, which helps
protect voter privacy, and
the form that observers must
sign also contains a number
of strong voter protections.
Especially good are the
explicit prohibition against
interfering with the conduct
of elections and the authority
to remove observers who
violate the rules.
Nevada could improve its
laws by limiting the number
of individuals who are permitted
to observe the conduct
of voting.
Members of the general public are not
permitted to photograph the conduct of
voting at a polling place, nor may they make
audio or video recordings of photograph the
conduct of voting.
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.274(2)
Before any person will be permitted to observe
the conduct of voting, he or she must
sign a form stating that, during the conduct
of voting, the person:
• may not talk to voters within the polling
place;
• may not use a mobile phone or computer
within the polling place;
• may not advocate for or against a candidate,
political party or ballot question;
• may not argue for or against or challenge
any decisions made by county election
personnel;
• may not interfere with the conduct of voting;
and
• may be removed from the polling place by
the county clerk for violating the election
laws or any of the above.
NEV. ADMIN. CODE § 293.245
The county clerk shall allow members
of the general public to observe the conduct
of voting at a polling place.
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.274(1)
The general public does not include anyone
who: gathers information for communication
to the public, is employed
by or contracted with the press, or is
acting solely within his or her professional
capacity.
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.274(3)
neVada Members of the general public are
allowed to observe the conduct of
voting at a polling place.
NEV. REV. STAT. § 293.274(1)
A person observing the conduct of voting at
a polling place may remain in an area designated
by the chair of the election board to
observe the activities conducted at the polling
place without interfering with the voting.
The designated area must allow for meaningful
observation, but must not be located
in an area that would allow an observer to
infringe on the privacy and confidentiality of
the ballot of the voter.
NEV. ADMIN. CODE § 293.245 (6)
46 • aPPendIx 3 | State Laws Governing Poll Watchers and Poll Observers