Can anyone tell me how important a poll watcher is and what

[babylonsister]

their duties are? Thanks!

[LA lady]

1. Check the rules!

Please know in some areas you must be a certified commissioner to be a poll watcher. This is true here in Louisiana.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. suggestion:

If you have time, go to the classes that should be offered to teach the poll workers. Unfortunately, there are three or four different kinds of jobs, so you'll have to go to each one to get a full overview of what everyone is suppose to be doing. Then, you can tell if someone steers from their authority.

Obviously, get everybody's name and political affiliation who is working your precinct, just to make sure one party doesn't overwhelm the numbers. And keep an eye on the other poll watchers, just to make sure they don't volunteer to help and do things they're not suppose to be doing.

[babylonsister]

3. Can you inform me who teaches the poll workers? Is it the

county I'm in? I've tried several times to try to volunteer (via e-mail and a visit to the office, and a phone call), and no one ever got back to me.
As for poll watcher, the local Dem is recruiting them here. Repugs might be also, but I don't know what they're up to.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Your County Supervisor of Elections.

Contact him or her and tell him that you would like to sit in on the training that they provide for the poll workers.

[babylonsister]

5. Thanks! nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. I'm glad you had the initiative to ask...but, the fact that the Dems

haven't organized enough to get sophisticated about training their poll watchers is what tells me that things are still disorganized at the grassroots level.

[babylonsister]

7. I've been enlisted as a poll watcher but not worker, thus my

confusion. But I did just find this and will check it out.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x450485

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. Good catch.

Things are looking up.

[seriousstan]

9. Poll watchers have no duties. They can only observe.

They cannot ask question or answer questions. They can be removed at will by the poll workers. I have been a poll worker for almost 20 years. A poll challenger, on the other hand, can challenge a voters eligibility on the basis of name, age or residence. After they challenge, the poll workers make the decision whether to actually challenge the voter or not. The poll workers then make the decision to either allow the voter to vote or not.

[babylonsister]

11. Thanks for your info. So what is the point of a poll watcher? nt

[seriousstan]

12. For my money, they are pointless. If you want real power to enable

voters, become a precinct judge (AKA poll worker). We make all of the final decisions.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

10. Well, last time we (the democratic poll watchers) had to call

the supervisor of elections out because the republican assholes were trying to keep people (minorities) from voting. Ion Sancho told them (the repugs) to piss off and the people got to vote.
Just keep an eye out and you CAN call for help if you need to.