Who are these people and why are they here?

The last three weeks the courthouse have seen more walk in traffic than in the last three or four months! Early voting has brought in a large number of people – which is great! Most who come in to vote probably consider that the “extra” people are employees or people bringing work to the clerk, which many are. If you choose to vote on election day, you may also find some “extra” folk hanging around.

Polling places are staffed by an Election Judge, assistant, and clerks. These are the people who check you in, point you to a ballot, and try to answer questions which are not related to candidates or issues. Under certain circumstances, they may be able to help you if you can’t physically mark your ballot, or they may swear in the person you brought to assist you.

In 1984, the ink on my law license was not quite dry. I had been working in Nolan County for two years when the call went out from the Texas Secretary of State for attorneys to volunteer as election inspectors. This was the year that Ronald Reagan was running against Walter Mondale, and there was concern that the Republican party might not be receiving a fair chance, especially in rural Texas. Attorneys were trained and certified by the Secretary of State, then assigned to work election day (and night) in a near by county. I was sent to Comanche County.

Inspectors do not work with or for any party, but for the chief election official of the state – the Secretary of State. Any time that fifteen registered voters file a request, the State is required to send out an inspector. Inspectors are to watch, not to comment or advise, and to report. Any concerns may be pointed out to the Election Judge, but despite being a state appointee, the inspector has no authority at the polling place. An Election Inspector will always wear a badge showing his or her office. He or she should not interfere with what is going on, and may wander in and out through the day. When I was serving, I was given a list of polling places in Comanche County to visit. Sipe Springs may be called a “ghost town” on line, but they had a very active polling place (once I managed to find it!). That year, nearly every rural county had at least one inspector, and most three or four (one for the ballot board which examines the absentee ballots, one for the counting station(s), and another one or two to go to the polling places.).

Poll watchers are different. A poll watcher is appointed by a candidate, party or those interested in one side or another of a particular issue. Watchers are generally appointed by a candidate or party. If representing a party, they are often appointed by the county chair; if by a candidate, it must be the candidate himself or the designated agent of the campaign can sign the appointment. (Since the Vice Presidential candidates are not on the ballot, they cannot appoint poll watchers!) The watcher must meet multiple requirements, including being a registered voter in the county, and is limited in what he or she may do.

Poll watchers may not have a device capable of recording by sound or sight in the polling place unless it is deactivated. An affidavit to that effect must be signed in front of the Election Judge. Unlike inspectors, once a poll watcher arrives at a precinct, he or she may not leave and re-enter until five continuous hours of observation have been conducted. If the watcher leaves before that time, re-entry is at the discretion of the Election Judge.

While the Secretary of State can have any number of Inspectors in polling places, no polling place can have more than two watchers per appointing authority. The watcher must wear identification as specified in the statute and present it to the Election Judge, along with the appointment, when he or she enters the polling place.

Watchers are another form of witness with regard to the actions of election officials in polling places. Between the necessary staff (Election Judge and helpers), Inspectors and Watchers, there can be many people in the room when you enter. None of these have the authority to question you about your vote, or the marking of your ballot. The Election Judge and assistants may answer your questions about the process and may talk to you if you want them to do so; neither Inspectors nor Watchers may do so. The Judge and assistants may, if need be, help with your ballot; none of the others should be close enough to see how you vote.

So don’t worry about the “extra” folk who may be there…they are simply in place to put to rest any concerns about the manner in which the election is conducted. Nolan County is fortunate to have good leadership with regard to our elections, so whether you choose to vote early or on Election Day, you can know that whatever issues the rest of the country may have, voting in Nolan County is safe.