Since Poll Watchers came up in #Debates2020, tonight's mega-thread is on #PollWatchers
State-by-State Thread on what the rules are for each State. Many have some legalese, but they're postcard-sized (#PostcardsforAmerica) so you can print & carry them.
Knowledge is Power.
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There have been Poll Watchers for 100 years, but about 40 years ago, GOP were ordered to sign a court decree because they were using #PollWatchers to intimidate voters - especially people of color.
That decree expired in 2018, so this will be the first election without it.
THREAD
ALABAMA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is Authorized to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Poll Watchers are Authorized to challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day; An election inspector may challenge an individual’s eligibility to vote.
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ALASKA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is Authorized to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Every election official, watcher & any other person qualified to vote in precinct may question a voter if they have good reason to suspect voter is not qualified.
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ARIZONA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is Authorized to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Any qualified elector of county may orally challenge a person offering to vote as not qualified or on the grounds that the person has voted before at that election.
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ARKANSAS Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
A poll watcher may challenge a voter on the grounds that the voter is not eligible to vote in the precinct or that the voter has previously voted at that election.
CALIFORNIA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is Authorized to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on #ElectionDay?
No one, other than a member of precinct board or other official responsible for conduct of election, shall question any voter concerning qualifications to vote.
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COLORADO Poll Watcher #PollWatcher Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on #ElectionDay?
Election judges can challenge any person intending to vote who judge believes is not eligible. Challenges can also be made by watchers or other voters in the precinct.
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CONNECTICUT Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Each registrar may appoint 1+ or in his town or district who can challenge the right of any person offering to vote, on the ground of want of ID, or disfranchisement or lack of bona fide residence, & moderator shall.
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DELAWARE Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Each of the political parties, acting through their respective county committees, may appoint and accredit some suitable person as a challenger.
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FLORIDA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Any registered elector or poll watcher of a county may challenge the right of a person to vote in that county.
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GEORGIA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Any elector of county or municipality may challenge right of any other elector whose name appears on the list of electors, to vote in an election.
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HAWAII Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Any voter in polling place may challenge the right to vote of any person who comes to the precinct officials for voting purposes on the grounds of ID or eligibility.
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IDAHO Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is Authorized to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
At the time of any election, any registered elector may challenge the entry of an elector's name as it appears in the election register.
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ILLINOIS Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
An election judge, a poll watcher, or a voter may challenge a person’s right to vote.
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INDIANA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Member of precinct election board (inspector or judge); a poll clerk (only done based on signature); or a challenger appointed by a candidate, or a political party.
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IOWA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Any voter may be challenged as unqualified by any precinct election official or registered voter.
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KANSAS Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
It shall be the duty of each judge of election to challenge any person offering to vote, whom the judge shall know or suspect not to be qualified as an elector.
THREAD
KENTUCKY Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
County executive committee of any political party having a ticket to elect may designate not more than 2 challengers to be present at & witness holding of the election.
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LOUISIANA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
A commissioner, watcher, or qualified voter may challenge a person applying to vote in a primary or general election.
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MAINE Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is Authorized to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
A voter of a municipality or an election official may challenge the right of another to vote at an election in that municipality
THREAD
MARYLAND Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on #ElectionDay?
Election judge can permit an individual other than an accredited watcher to challenge the right to vote of any other voter, but only on the grounds of identity.
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MASSACHUSETTS Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Any election officer or other person may challenge a person's right to vote for any legal cause
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MICHIGAN Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on #ElectionDay?
A political party or an incorporated organization or organized committee of citizens or another voter may challenge a voter if they have good reason to suspect them.
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MINNESOTA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
An election judge, authorized challenger or other voter may challenge an individual, based upon personal knowledge they know that the voter is not eligible.
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MISSISSIPPI Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on #ElectionDay?
Any candidate on the ballot in the precinct in which the challenge is made, official poll watcher of a candidate or a political party any voter or any poll worker.
THREAD
MISSOURI Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
The ID or qualifications of any voter may be challenged by any election authority personnel, registered voter, or duly authorized challenger at the polling place.
THREAD
MONTANA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
A voter may be challenged by any other voter by filling out & signing an affidavit stating the grounds of the challenge and providing any evidence to an election judge.
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NEBRASKA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Any voter may be challenged as unqualified by any inspector, judge or clerk of election, or registered voter.
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NEVADA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
A voter may be challenged orally by any registered voter of the precinct on grounds that he/she is not the person entitled to vote as claimed or has already voted.
THREAD
NEW HAMPSHIRE Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is Authorized to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
A voter may be challenged by another voter registered in town/ward in which election is held, an election official, a challenger appointed by political committee or the AG
NEW JERSEY Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Members of district boards & any duly authorized challenger may challenge any voter.
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NEW MEXICO Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
A challenge may be interposed by a member of the precinct board or by a party challenger.
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NEW YORK Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is Authorized to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on #ElectionDay?
Any voter may be challenged by any registered voter, watcher, or clerk or inspector of election.
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NORTH CAROLINA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Any other registered voter of the precinct may exercise the right of challenge, and when he does so may enter the voting enclosure to make the challenge.
THREAD
NORTH DAKOTA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Any member of election board. A poll challenger may request members of the election board to challenge the right of a voter.
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OHIO Poll Watcher #Poll Watcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Any person offering to vote may be challenged at the polling place by any precinct election official.
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OKLAHOMA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on #ElectionDay?
No One.
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OREGON Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on #ElectionDay?
N/A It's #VoteByMail
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PENNSYLVANIA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day? Any voter may be challenged by any qualified elector, election officer, overseer, or watcher on ID, residence or violation.
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RHODE ISLAND Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
The watchers and any election official shall have the right to challenge the right to vote of any person offering himself or herself as a voter.
THREAD
SOUTH CAROLINA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Managers of election, any voter or qualified watcher may, challenge the vote of a person who may be known or suspected not to be a qualified voter.
THREAD
SOUTH DAKOTA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on #ElectionDay?
Voter may be challenged by anyone but only as to the identity or on grounds that within 15 days preceding the election the person has been convicted of a felony.
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TENNESSEE Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
If any person's right to vote is challenged by any other person present at the polling place, the judges shall present the challenge to the person.
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TEXAS Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
No one.
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UTAH Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
A poll watcher, or an individual who lives in voting precinct may challenge an individual’s eligibility to vote.
*Utah is almost entirely #VoteByMail now
THREAD
VERMONT Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
In all cases the representatives shall have the right to hear or see the name of a person seeking to vote, and they shall have the right to make an immediate challenge.
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VIRGINIA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Any qualified voter may, and the officers of election shall, challenge the vote of any voter known or suspected not to be a qualified voter.
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WASHINGTON Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
N/A
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WEST VIRGINIA Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Members of the receiving board, jointly or severally, may challenge the right of any person requesting a ballot to vote in any election in certain circumstances.
THREAD
WISCONSIN Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Each inspector or any voter may challenge for cause any voter whom the inspector knows or suspects is not a qualified elector or who does not adhere to any voting requirement.
WYOMING Poll Watcher #PollWatcher
Who is AUTHORIZED to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
It is the duty of the judges to challenge electors whenever existence of legal grounds for doing so is known or apparent to the judges.
THREAD
AND
Be A Guardian Of Democracy
Be a Poll Worker!
Links & Info to apply in All 50 States
Including for #YouthAtTheBooth
On the #PostcardsforAmerica website here postcardsforamerica.com/be-a-poll-work…
On #DemCast: demcastusa.com/2020/07/10/be-…
FB: facebook.com/media/set/?set…
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