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)
VIRGINIA
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
In order to be a poll worker (Election Officer) You must be 18+, a qualified voter, resident of Commonwealth and precinct, complete training. $175-$250. To signup, contact your county registrar.
HOW POLL WORKERS ARE CHOSEN:
Electoral boards appoint officers of election from lists of nominations filed by political parties. Parties file nominations with secretary of the electoral board 10+ days before February 1 each year. Appointments are made giving representation to each of the 2 political parties having highest & 2nd-highest number of votes in the Commonwealth for Governor at last preceding gubernatorial election with each party equal at each precinct. One officer shall be designated as the chief officer of election and 1 officer as the assistant for each precinct; each of different parties. Electoral boards instruct each chief officer and assistant in his duties not less than 3 nor more than 30 days before each election. Each electoral board may instruct each officer of election in his duties at an appropriate time or times before each November general election.
Approx DEADLINE to sign up to be a Poll Worker
January 22, 2020
POLL WATCHER INFO
The officers of election shall permit one authorised representative of each political party or independent candidate in a general or special election, or one authorised representative of each candidate in a primary election, to remain in the room in which the election is being conducted at all times. The officers of election shall have discretion to permit up to three authorised representatives of each political party or independent candidate in a general or special election, or up to three authorised representatives of each candidate in a primary election, to remain in the room in which the election is being conducted. Each authorised representative shall be a qualified voter of any jurisdiction of the Commonwealth. (Va. Code Ann. § 24.2-604) A local electoral board or general registrar may authorize in writing the presence of additional neutral observers as may be deemed appropriate subject to restrictions.
Who is Authorized to Challenge a Voter’s Eligibility on Election Day?
Any qualified voter may, and the officers of election shall, challenge the vote of any person who is listed on the pollbook but is known or suspected not to be a qualified voter.
Resources for Virginia:
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.