§ 4.24.030. Challengers and watchers.

A.

Each candidate, political party or other body of voters having a candidate, candidates, principal or proposition appearing on the ballot, shall have the right to designate a registered voter as a challenger and watcher at each place of registration and election. Challengers and watchers shall be assigned to a position near the judges, inside the registration or polling room, as to enable them to observe and hear the name of each person as the person offers to register or vote. They shall be protected in the discharge of their duty by the judges and the police, but a judge is not required to assist any watcher or challenger in the performance of the watcher's or challenger's duties.

B.

A certificate signed and dated by any party or candidate shall be sufficient evidence of the right of any challenger and watcher to be present in the registration or polling room. The certificate form as described in Paragraph G. of this section, shall be presented to the Chief Judge immediately upon entry to the polling or registration location.

C.

A challenger or watcher has the right to enter the polling place one-half hour before the opening of the polls. A challenger or watcher has the right to enter or be present at the polling place at any time the polls are open, and may remain in the polling place until the returns are completed.

1.

A challenger or watcher may maintain a list of registered voters who have voted, or individuals who have cast provisional ballots, and take the list outside of the polling place; and

2.

A challenger or watcher may temporarily leave a polling place for the purpose of seeking information that identifies registered voters who have cast ballots or individuals who have cast provisional ballots.

D.

It is unlawful for any challenger or watcher to inquire or ascertain for which candidate any voter intends to vote, or has voted, or to converse in the polling place with any voter or to assist any voter in the preparation of the voter's ballot or in the operation of the voting machine or to physically handle an original election document. Any challenger or watcher who violates the restrictions of this subsection may lawfully be ejected by the Chief Judge of a polling precinct and is subject to the punishment provided for in this title.

E.

A challenger or watcher may be removed at any time by the same person who appointed the challenger or watcher.

F.

Persons other than accredited challengers or watchers who desire to challenge the vote of any person shall be permitted to enter the polling place for that purpose, but a majority of the judges may limit the number of persons to be allowed in the polling place at any one time for that purpose; and all of these persons shall leave the polling place as soon as the right to vote of the person challenged by them has been decided.

G.

The form for the certificate of a challenger and watcher shall be supplied by the board, party, candidate or other organization and shall be on a form prescribed by the board. The board shall include in the prescribed form, the restrictions contained in this subsection and punishment provided for in this subsection in the event of noncompliance.

H.

While at a polling place, a challenger or watcher shall wear an identification badge approved by the board.

(Ord. O-33-07 Revised Amended § 1 (part), 2008: Ord. O-39-91 § 1 (part); prior code § 7A-63)

(Ord. No. O-27-16, § I, 7-25-2016)