Poll Watchers
The integrity of elections is a concern of all citizens, and although poll watchers may represent particular candidates, political parties, or specific-purpose political action committees, their main interest is in the conduct of a fair and honest election.
A poll watcher’s role in an election is established by Chapter 33 of the Texas Election Code and is defined as follows:
Poll Watcher – a person appointed to observe the conduct of an election on behalf of:
- •a candidate,
•a political party, or
•the proponents or opponents of a measure (specific-purpose political action committees).
In order to serve as a poll watcher, you must show up with a certificate of appointment that includes:
- Name, residence address, and voter registration number of the poll watcher
- The signature of the person(s) making the appointment
- The election and the number of the precinct where the poll watcher is to serve
- An indication of the capacity in which the appointing authority is acting
- In an election on a measure, an identification of the measure (if more than one is to be voted on) and a statement of which side the appointee represents
- An affidavit to be executed by the poll watcher that the poll watcher will not have possession of any mechanical or electronic means of recording images or sound while serving as a watcher unless the poll watcher disables or deactivates the device
- The signature of the poll watcher
Poll Watcher Requirements:
- Be a registered voter of the territory (e.g., city, school district) covered by the election and of the county for November general elections for state and county officers (held on even -years), primary elections, or other countywide elections [Sec. 33.031]
- NOT be a candidate for public office in an election held on the day the watcher seeks to serve [Sec. 33.032]
- NOT hold an elective public office [Sec. 33.034]
- NOT be an employee of an election judge or clerk serving at the same polling place [Sec. 33.033]
- NOT been finally convicted of an offense in connection with conduct directly attributable to an election [Sec. 33.035]
- NOT be related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity (as determined by Tex. Govt. Code, Chapter 573, Subchapter B, Secs. 573.022 – 573.025) to an election judge or clerk serving at that polling place. A watcher may be related to the candidate the watcher is representing. [Sec. 33.033]
Appointment of Poll Watcher by Candidate Form