Voting & Elections

RUMOR:

Poll watchers scare people away from voting.

REALITY:

Poll watchers ensure their candidate is treated fairly at the polls.

Poll watchers work for a candidate or party and spend Election Day in polling places to be sure they are run fairly. They look out for things like: Do the voting machines work? Are voters being turned away unfairly? Is everyone getting only one ballot?

If a poll watcher sees something that violates the law, they report it to election officials. If a poll watcher disrupts operations in a polling place, election officials are allowed to remove them.

The rules for poll watching vary from state to state, but generally, poll watchers must be registered in advance of the election. There are also limits to the number of poll watchers in each polling place.

In a non-official role, a candidate’s supporters can stand outside a polling place as long as they stay a legal distance from the entrance. By law, they cannot intimidate, challenge, question, or obstruct anyone trying to enter a polling place.

Voting & Elections

Rumor:

Reality:

References:

The National Council of State Legislatures: Poll Watchers and Challengers

NPR: How Does Poll Watching Work?

MarketWatch: As Trump calls for supporters to ‘watch very carefully’ at the polls—what is a ‘poll watcher’ and who gets to be one?

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What is Blexit?

Blexit is a targeted campaign to convince Black Americans to abandon the Democratic party. It is part of a larger effort to suppress the Black vote.

How are Black and brown votes suppressed?

Throughout history, politicians and the parties themselves have influenced elections by keeping Black and brown people from voting. Tactics include making it hard to register and to vote, and using disinformation to discourage people from voting.

Is my vote worth it?

Your votes affect how your government is run and your tax dollars spent on every level. Taking the time to read up on the issues and casting your vote is important.