Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
Bullies at the Ballot Box - Demos
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
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 />
New Hampshire should<br />
improve its law by limiting<br />
who is permitted to observe<br />
voters on election day and by<br />
cre<strong>at</strong>ing more detailed voter<br />
protections.<br />
In addition, New Hampshire<br />
should prohibit photographing<br />
and recording of voters<br />
within <strong>the</strong> polling place.<br />
It is good th<strong>at</strong> interfering<br />
with a voter within <strong>the</strong><br />
guardrail is a misdemeanor.<br />
No person not authorized by law may stand<br />
or sit within 6 feet of <strong>the</strong> ballot clerk for<br />
purposes of observing <strong>the</strong> check-in of voters<br />
without <strong>the</strong> express permission of <strong>the</strong><br />
moder<strong>at</strong>or.<br />
N.H. REV. STAT. § 659:13-a<br />
No person shall interfere or <strong>at</strong>tempt to<br />
interfere with any voter when such voter is in<br />
<strong>the</strong> space within <strong>the</strong> guardrail or endeavor to<br />
induce any voter before voting to show how<br />
he marks or has marked his ballot. Whoever<br />
knowingly viol<strong>at</strong>es this section shall be guilty<br />
of a misdemeanor if a n<strong>at</strong>ural person or<br />
guilty of a felony if any o<strong>the</strong>r person.<br />
N.H. REV. STAT. § 659:37<br />
neW hamPShIre In New Hampshire, observers or<br />
w<strong>at</strong>chers have no special st<strong>at</strong>us in<br />
law. However, New Hampshire<br />
does allow <strong>the</strong>se individuals to<br />
be present in <strong>the</strong> polling place on<br />
Election Day.<br />
S<strong>at</strong>ISFaCtory<br />
It is very good th<strong>at</strong> North<br />
Carolina limits observers<br />
from interfering with <strong>the</strong><br />
vote and specifically grants<br />
authority to eject observers<br />
who are impeding <strong>the</strong> voting<br />
process.<br />
The <strong>at</strong>torney general’s<br />
opinion st<strong>at</strong>ing th<strong>at</strong> North<br />
Carolina would not permit<br />
videotaping is very protective<br />
of voter’s privacy. The legisl<strong>at</strong>ure<br />
should adopt this in <strong>the</strong><br />
law and add protections in<br />
light of smartphones and<br />
o<strong>the</strong>r mobile devices.<br />
Observers may not electioneer <strong>at</strong> <strong>the</strong> voting<br />
place. Observers may not impede <strong>the</strong> voting<br />
process or interfere or communic<strong>at</strong>e with or<br />
observe any voter casting a ballot.<br />
N.C. GEN. STAT. § 163-45<br />
The chief judge and judges of election may<br />
eject any challenger or witness for viol<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
of any provisions of <strong>the</strong> election laws.<br />
The chief judge and judges shall permit <strong>the</strong><br />
observer to “make such observ<strong>at</strong>ion and take<br />
such notes as <strong>the</strong> observer may desire.”<br />
N.C. GEN. STAT. §§ 163-45; 163-48<br />
Videotaping of voters by election observers<br />
would be outside <strong>the</strong> permissible activities<br />
and inconsistent with <strong>the</strong> constitutional and<br />
st<strong>at</strong>utory principles insuring unfettered elections<br />
for voters; however, <strong>the</strong>re are not <strong>the</strong><br />
same legal concerns with <strong>the</strong> use of cellular<br />
telephones.<br />
Op.Atty.Gen., Nichols, Oct. 22, 1998.<br />
The chair of each political party in <strong>the</strong><br />
county shall have <strong>the</strong> right to design<strong>at</strong>e<br />
two observers to <strong>at</strong>tend each voting<br />
place. Observers must be appointed in<br />
writing to <strong>the</strong> county board of elections<br />
five days before <strong>the</strong> election. The chair<br />
or <strong>the</strong> judges for each affected precinct<br />
may, however, reject any appointee for<br />
cause and require ano<strong>the</strong>r be appointed.<br />
N.C. GEN. STAT. § 163-45<br />
north CarolIna Observers must be registered<br />
voters of <strong>the</strong> county for which<br />
<strong>the</strong>y are appointed and must have<br />
“good moral character.”<br />
N.C. GEN. STAT. § 163-45.<br />
47 • aPPendIx 3 | St<strong>at</strong>e Laws Governing Poll W<strong>at</strong>chers and Poll Observers