What Are the Differences Between Poll Watchers and Poll Workers?
At polling places, you’ll see a lot of people volunteering their time to make sure your voting experience is smooth, fair, and accurate.
Two key roles you’ll likely see include poll workers and poll watchers.
Both roles are essential to maintaining election integrity and public trust on Election Day and at satellite locations for early voting. However, both have different rules and responsibilities at the polls.
Let’s look at what each group does and doesn’t do, and how you can get involved!
What Is a Poll Watcher?
A poll watcher is also called a poll observer. This person’s job is to monitor the election process and ensure that voting procedures are properly followed. Watchers may be appointed by nonpartisan groups, voter advocacy groups, political parties, or specific candidates to provide an extra layer of accountability and transparency while votes are collected and counted.
What Poll Observers Do:
Watch the process: Observe setup procedures, the voter check-in steps, casting of ballots, and poll-closing activities.
Take notes: Keep track of voter turnout, trends, and procedural errors, if any.
Report issues: If a watcher spots a problem, it’s their job to report their concerns to the precinct precinct leader (election official) so the issue can be corrected.
What Poll Observers Don’t Do:
Interact with voters: Watchers are spectators only. They are not supposed to speak to voters, help mark ballots, or give voting advice.
Touch election materials: They are not allowed to handle ballots, voting machines, or administrative documents.
Interfere or disrupt: Watchers cannot campaign for a candidate or party and cannot wear political apparel inside the polling site. They are not allowed to interfere with voters’ or poll workers’ activities.
What Is a Poll Worker?
A poll worker or precinct election official is a paid employee hired and trained by the county auditor or election office. These are the folks who welcome you, check your ID, and give you your ballot. Their role is to make sure the polling place operates according to state election law.
What Poll Workers Do:
Set up and open the polls: They arrive early to prepare the voting booths, start the tabulators, and verify counts of paper ballots.
Process voters: They check voters in, verify voters’ IDs, register new voters and check voters’ registrations, and issue official ballots.
Provide assistance: Poll workers can tell voters how to use voting equipment, answer general questions, and help voters with disabilities as requested.
Maintain security: They ensure every ballot stays private and stored securely throughout the day.
What Poll Workers Don’t Do:
Show political bias: Poll workers must be neutral while working. They cannot express personal political opinions, wear political apparel, or support specific candidates while on the job.
Turn away eligible voters: If a voter's eligibility is unclear, poll workers can provide a provisional ballot. This is a ballot that will be counted if the voter is eligible to vote and won’t be counted if the voter turns out not to be eligible to vote. This ensures that even if there are questions about an eligible voter’s registration, every citizen gets the chance to cast their vote.
Where Can You Sign Up to Help?
Maintaining democracy relies on community members stepping up to serve. Sign up to work the polls this election season.
To Become a Poll Watcher:
Political Parties & County Committees: Reach out directly to your local county party headquarters, such as Linn County Democrats, to request the chance to be a party observer.
Nonpartisan Organizations: Groups such as the League of Women Voters of Linn County or election protection coalitions frequently train nonpartisan observers.
To Become a Poll Worker (Precinct Election Official):
Linn County Election Services: Visit the Linn County Auditor’s Office website to fill out a Precinct Election Official application.
Iowa Secretary of State: Check out the statewide "Become A Poll Worker" instructions on Paul Pate’s website.
Serving as a poll worker or watcher is a direct, impactful way to help keep our elections fair, accessible, and secure for everyone. Sign up today to protect democracy in your local polling place.
