Poll watchers face strict rules as they monitor the election process

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – When you go to the polls to cast your vote, you will notice several people there watching everything that is happening.

They are called pollsters and that is exactly what they are allowed to do. But they have specific rules to follow.

The South Carolina State Election Commission’s Polls Managers Handbook states that viewers must wear a badge that identifies who they are and which candidate or party they represent. They must also provide a letter signed by the candidate or an authorized party official stating that the poll worker is certified to serve as an observer in that precinct.

Some people who monitor polling places are observers, but unlike poll watchers, they are not employed by an electoral council like a poll watcher is, and are not appointed by a political party or candidate. However, observers may watch election activities at the poll worker’s discretion.

They may observe the election process, take notes and gather information or ask questions of the clerk or poll worker.

But there are several things they are not allowed to do: they are not allowed to interfere with the elections, take photos or videos at the polling station, communicate with voters or employees or harass voters. They also may not physically handle or touch voting materials or equipment, move or rearrange tables, chairs or voting booths, or sit or loiter at work tables, or view confidential voter information on any computer terminal, ballot or document.

If a poll worker wants to challenge a voter, he may only address the poll worker, not the voter.

Isaac Cramer, executive director of the Charleston County Board of Elections, says there are consequences for spectators who don’t follow the rules.

“If a poll worker comes to you at any point during the process, that’s against the rules of the polling place,” he says. “The clerk at that location at every polling place in South Carolina, there’s a lead poll worker at that location, you’ll find that person, you’ll tell them your experience and that poll worker will be spoken to. If this happens multiple times, the poll worker is effectively removed from the premises for violating the rules.”

Cramer says that at the end of the day the spectators are just observing; they don’t correct things, they don’t talk to voters, and they don’t interrupt election officials and their work.