What’s the difference between Poll Worker & Poll Watcher?
Poll Worker:
Nonpartisan, Paid (Clerks, Judges, Inspectors, Checker, Precinct Worker)
Poll Watcher:
Partisan, Volunteer (Observers, Monitors, Challengers)
MICHIGAN
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
To be a poll worker (Precinct Inspector, Election Inspector) you must be 18+, registered to vote in Michigan, party affiliated, a resident of the county, complete required training. To signup, contact your local board of elections.
HOW POLL WORKERS ARE CHOSEN:
Not later than May 15 of each year, the county chair of the major political parties (*each of the 2 parties whose candidate for Secretary of State received highest & 2nd-highest votes at preceding election) may submit to the city, township, or village clerks in that county a list of individuals who are interested in serving as an election inspector, designating where each individual wishes to serve. Between 21 & 40 days before election, the board of election commissioners appoints at least 3 qualified individuals to each precinct, designating 1 as chairperson.
Approx DEADLINE to sign up to be a Poll Worker
May 15, 2020
POLL WATCHER INFO:
At an election, a political party or an incorporated organization or organized committee of citizens interested in the adoption or defeat of a ballot question being voted for or upon at the election, or interested in preserving the purity of elections and in guarding against the abuse of the elective franchise, may designate challengers as provided in this act. A political party, incorporated organization, or organized committee of interested citizens may designate not more than 2 challengers to serve in a precinct at any 1 time. A challenger shall be a registered elector of the state
An election is an open process that may be observed by any interested person. A person who wishes to observe the election process — who is not a qualified election challenger — is commonly called a “poll watcher.”
Who is Authorized to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
At an election, a political party or an incorporated organization or organized committee of citizens interested in the adoption or defeat of a ballot question being voted for or upon at the election, or interested in preserving the purity of elections and in guarding against the abuse of the elective franchise, may designate challengers (Mich. Comp. Laws § 168.730). An election inspector shall challenge an applicant applying for a ballot if the inspector knows or has good reason to suspect that the applicant is not a qualified and registered elector of the precinct, or if a challenge appears in connection with the applicant’s name in the registration book. A registered elector of the precinct present in the polling place may challenge the right of anyone attempting to vote if the elector knows or has good reason to suspect that individual is not a registered elector in that precinct.
Resources for Michigan:
- Retweetable Tweet with links for Michigan here.
- Shareable FB post & downloadable graphic here.
- GoogleDoc here.
POLL WORKER (and Poll Watcher) Requirements & links to sign-up in All 50 States, STATE BY STATE Including:
- QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- HOW POLL WORKERS ARE CHOSEN
- POLL WATCHER INFO;
- Who is Authorised to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
- & Links to retweetable TWEETS & shareable FB Posts for each State
- Twitter THREAD with links here.
- Facebook shareable Album with downloadable graphics here.
- On the Postcards for America website here.
- On the Unhack the Vote Website here.
