The Briefing Room
State Chapters => Texas => Topic started by: Elderberry on October 03, 2020, 02:26:16 am
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Texas Scorecard by Erin Anderson October 1, 2020
Citizen poll watchers complained this week they were being denied access to in-person mail ballot drop-off locations.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott today issued updated ballot security protocols for in-person delivery of marked mail ballots for the November election, amending an earlier mail-voting order issued under his coronavirus disaster declaration.
By Abbott’s proclamation, beginning on October 2, mail ballots delivered in person by voters to a county’s early voting clerk must be turned in to a single location designated by the county.
County election officials must also allow poll watchers to “observe any activity conducted at the early voting clerk’s office location related to the in-person delivery of a marked mail ballot.â€
More: https://texasscorecard.com/state/abbott-orders-enhanced-mail-ballot-security-measures/ (https://texasscorecard.com/state/abbott-orders-enhanced-mail-ballot-security-measures/)
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@Elderberry
@libertybele
@mystery-ak
In Texas and likely every state, one cannot just walk in a polling place and say he/she is a poll watcher.
Each Democrat and Republican Chairman in a county may appoint poll watchers, one poll watcher for each Precinct Polling place, or not use them, or use them at specific Precinct Polling places. It is up to the Chairman whether to use poll watchers or not. If using poll watchers, the Chairman must instruct the poll watchers what they can and cannot do at a polling place. I know what those poll watchers can and cannot do, but won't post them here unless someone wants to know what they are.
Also, the poll watcher has a document from the Chairman saying this person is a poll watcher. The poll watcher must show this document to the Judge of the polling place.
There are laws and rules that must be followed in an election and that is true for Poll Watchers, too.
A poll watcher at a mail-in ballot drop off location goes through the same process as above. In this case, their documentation to be a poll watcher would be shown to the early voting clerk at that location.
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POLL WATCHER’S GUIDE
POLL WATCHER’S GUIDE Issued by the SECRETARY OF STATE ELECTIONS DIVISION
https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/forms/pollwatchers-2018.pdf (https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/forms/pollwatchers-2018.pdf)
APPOINTMENT OF WATCHER
APPOINTMENT OF WATCHER BY POLITICAL PARTIES:
APPOINTMENT OF WATCHER BY A CANDIDATE:
APPOINTMENT OF WATCHER FOR ELECTIONS ON MEASURES:
Q.What is the maximum number of watchers that can be appointed by each appointing authority?
A.1.A maximum of seven (7) watchers may be appointed for each early voting polling place (No more than two may be on duty at the same location and at the same time); and
2.A maximum of two (2) watchers may be appointed for each precinct polling place, meeting place for an early voting ballot board, or central counting station involved in the election. [Sec. 33.007].
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@Elderberry erry
Thanks, Elderberry, that is the whole thing.