File:Election observers.png
Summary
| Description |
English: Source: state laws and https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/policies-for-election-observers |
| Date | |
| Source | Own work |
| Author | Numbersinstitute |
Table
| Laws | Logic & accuracy tests | Counting | Public at audits & recounts? | Other observing outside polling places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Code §§17-11-11, 17-8-7, 17-16-21, 17-24-7; Ala. Admin. Code r. 307-X-1-.04, r. 820-2-10-.17, r. 307-X-1-.11 | Public | |||
| Alaska Stat. §15.10.170; 6 AAC 25.010, 25.020 | Partisans | |||
| Arizona Rev. Stat. §§16-449, 16-590, 16-621, 16-602(B), 16-643; 2019 Elections Procedures Manual 2019 | Public | Public @ central count | All at count center. Webcam of storage | |
| Arkansas Code §§7-5-312, 7-5-603, 7-5-416, 7-4-105(b) | Public | Public | recounts | canvass |
| California Elec. Code §§2301, 15004, 15301, 15104, 15204, 15360, 15629; Election Observations Rights and Responsibilities, California Secretary of State, rev. Sept 2022 | Public | Public | Audits + recounts | Public |
| Colorado Rev. Stat. §§1-7-509(2), 1-7-108; 8 CCR 1505-1 | Public | Partisans & media. others discretionary | part of audit | discretionary |
| Connecticut Gen. Stat. §§9-244, 9-235, 9-236, 9-242b; Procedure Manual for Counting Absentee Ballots, Secretary of the State of Connecticut, rev. 7/2013 | Public | Public @ central count | audits & recounts | |
| Delaware Code, Title 15, §§ 5008A, 4933, 4913, 5510A, 5611, 4977, 5701, 5012A | Public | Partisans | opening VBM | |
| District of Columbia Mun. Regs. §§3-706, 3-801.2, 3-816.6; D.C. Code Ann. §1-1001.09a | Public | Counts discretionary | Audits. Recounts if space | |
| Florida Stat. Title IX §§101.5612, 101.58, 101.131, 101.5614, 101.5614, 101.591, §102.166(3) | Public | Partisans: voting systems | Audits, Recounts | Storage |
| Georgia Code §§ 21-2-374, 21-2-379.6, 21-2-379.25, 21-2-413 (f), 21-2-408(d), 21-2-406, 21-2-414(b), § 21-2-483(b), 21-2-498, Rule 183-1-15-.03 | Public | Public | Audits + recounts | Public |
| Hawaii Rev. Stat. §§ 16-42, 11-132, 16-47, 16-45, 16-24 | Partisans | Public | ||
| Idaho Stat. §§34-2416, 34-2304 | Partisans | Partisans | Recounts | Partisans @ preparation |
| Illinois 10 ILCS 5/24A-9, 5/24B-9, 5/24C-9, 5/17-23, 5/19A-60, 5/19-10, 5/19-10, 5/19-7, 5/17-23, 5/24A-1 | Public | Partisans + civic organizations | Partisans + civic organizations @ audit | Partisans + civic organizations @ signature verification |
| Indiana Code 3-11-13-23, 3-6-8-1, 3-6-10-1, 3-6-8-7, 3-11-8-15, 3-11.5-3, 3-11.7-4, 3-12-6-21, 3-12-11-17, 3-12-3.5-8 | Public | Public | Audit + local recounts | Decisions on provisionals |
| Iowa Code §§52.35, 49.104, 49.104, 50.1A, 50.46, 50.51; Iowa Admin. Code 721—26.106 | Public | Public | Recounts, partisans @ audits | Canvass |
| Kansas Stat. §§25-4411, 25-3005, 25-3005a, 25-3005, 25-3009, 25-3107; 2019 Kansas Election Standards Chapter II | Public | Most | Audits, recounts | Most |
| Kentucky Rev. Stat. §§117.165, 117.235, 117.315, 117.085, 117.275, 117.305 | Public | Partisans | Recanvass | |
| Louisiana LRS 18:1373, 18:435, 18:427, 18:1313, 18:1453; Poll Watchers Booklet, rev. 6/22 | Public | Qualified voters | Recounts | Qualified voters |
| Maine 21-A M.R.S.A. §§854, 627, 759, 695, 737-A | Public | Public | Partisans @ recount | Partisans @ absentee ballot processing |
| Maryland Election Law Code Ann. § 10-311, 10-308, 10-301.1, 10-314, 11-202, 11-309; COMAR 33.07.07, 33.12.03.02 ; Maryland State Board of Elections Instructions and Information for Challengers, Watchers, and Other Election Observers, rev. June 1, 2022 | Public | Public | Audits + recounts | verification +certification |
| Massachusetts Gen. Law Ann. ch. 54 §§94, 109A; 950 CMR §§54.00, 54.04(22), 54.05(1), 46.00; Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division, Election Advisory #20-10 Regarding Election Observers; Election Recounts, Secretary of the Commonwealth, p.5 | Public | Public | Audits + recounts | Opne absentee ballots |
| Michigan M.C.L.A. §§ 168.798, 168.730, 168.733, 168.765a, 168.730, 168.874; State of Michigan Secretary of State, The Appointment, Rights, and Duties of Election Challengers and Poll Watchers, rev. May 2022; Michigan Department of State, Post-Election Audit Manual | Public | Public | Audits + recounts | |
| Minnesota Stat. Ann. §§206.83, 204C.06, 204C.07, 203B.212(5), 204C.07, 206.85, 206.86, 204C.07; Minn. Admin. Rules 8235.0600; conversation with state election director in 2016 and 2020. | Public | Public | Audits + recounts | |
| Mississippi Code Ann. §§ 23-15-521 lat, 23-15-577 polling place, 23-15-581 close polls+count, § 23-15-523 counting center. also https://www.sos.ms.gov/content/documents/Elections/Poll%20Watcher%20Conduct.pdf | Public | Public | [dead link] | |
| Missouri Rev. Stat. §§ 115.233, 115.409, 115.105, 115.107, 115.601; 15 CSR 30-10.110 | Public | Partisans | Audits, people who asked for recount | |
| Montana Code Ann. §§13-17-212, 12-12-121, 12-12-121, 13-13-241, 13-15-101, 13-13-241, 12-12-120, 13-17-506, 13-16-411 | Public | Public | Audits + recounts | Processing absentee ballots |
| Nebraska Rev. Stat. §§32-1013, 32-1115, 32-1525 | Not specified. | Not specified. | Not specified. | Not specified. |
| Nevada Rev. Stat. §§293.274, 293.385, 293B.330, 293B.335, 293.363, 293B.353, 293B.380; Nev. Admin. Code 293.245, 293.311, 293.255 | Public @ central count | Audits | Preparation of absentee ballots, transport of completed ballots | |
| New Hampshire Rev. Stat. Ann. 656:42, 666.4, 659:63, 659:49, 659:50, 660:4, 666:5, 654:7-c; New Hampshire Secretary of State Election Procedure Manual: 2022-2023 | Public | Public (all done at polling places) | Recounts | Most |
| New Jersey NJSA 19:53A-8, 19:48-6, 19:15-8, 19:7-5, 19:6-28, 19:61-9, 19:28-3 | Public | Public | Audits + recounts | Canvass |
| New Mexico Stat. Ann. §§1-1-3.2, 1-2-25, 1-2-29, §1-2-25(6), 1-2-31, 1-2-32, 1-14-13.2; NMAC 1.10.12.11; New Mexico Secretary of State Election Challengers, Watchers & Observers Information | With permission | Audits +recounts with permission | Partisans + others with permission @ canvass | |
| New York Election Law §§ 7–207, 8–500, 8–506, 9–102, 9–209, 9–211 | Partisans @ audits | Partisans: ballot envelopes +canvass | ||
| North Carolina N.C.G.S. §§ 163-165.7, 163-166.3, 163-45, 163-48, 163-227.6, 163-234, 163-166.10, 163-182.2(3), 163-182.7; 08 NCAC 04 .0307, 08 NCAC 10B .0105; North Carolina Board of Elections, Tips for Monitoring or Observing the Election at Polling Sites | Public | Public | Recounts | |
| North Dakota NDCC § 16.1-05-09 | Observers | Observers @ recounts | ||
| Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3506.14, 3505.21, 3505.21, 3509.06, 3505.21, 3505.331(C), 3515.04; Ohio Secretary of State Election Official Manual, rev. 2/2022 | Public | Partisans | Partisans @ audits + recounts | Partisans @ prepping absentee ballots + canvass |
| Oklahoma Stat. §§26-9-115, 26-7-130, 26-7-130, 26-7-112, 26-14-123, 26-7-130, 26-8-113, 26-8-114 | Partisans | Partisans | Candidate or representative @ recount | Prep absentee ballots |
| Oregon Rev. Stat. §§ 254.525, 254.482, 254.532, 258.211; Oregon Secretary of State, Vote by Mail Procedures Manual, rev. 9/2022 | Public | Public | Audits, recounts | Public except confidential processes |
| Pennsylvania 25 P.S. §§ 3031.10, 3011, 2687, 3146.8, 2650 | Partisans | Partisans @ recounts | Partisans @ prep of equipment, absentee opening, canvass | |
| Rhode Island R.I.G.L. § 17-19-14, 17-19-22, 17-22-2, 17-19-37.4; Rhode Island Board of Elections, Guide to Election Recounts, rev. 11/2020 | Public | Public | Partisans @ absentee opening | |
| South Carolina Code Ann. §§7-13-1390, 7-13-860, 7-13-35; South Carolina Election Commission, Poll Managers Handbook, rev. September 2022 | Public | Public | Examining absentee envelopes, canvass | |
| South Dakota S.D.C.L. §§ 12-17B-5, 12-18-9, 12-19-44; SDLRC 5:02:19:04 | Public | Public | Recount | |
| Tennessee Code Ann. §§ 2-7-104, 2-20-103 | Partisans + state residents appointed in writing by organization | Public @ audits | ||
| Texas Election Code §§127.096, 129.023, 33.059, 61.001, 61.003, 33.001 – 33.061 | Public | Partisans | Partisans @ securing equipment + ballot board process | |
| Utah UCA 20A-3a-801, 20A-4-303 | Public | Registered voters | Registered voters @ audits + recounts | Public @ canvass. Registered voters @ ballot processing |
| Vermont 17 V.S.A. §§ 2493, 2564, 2546a, 2581, 2602c | Public | Public | Recounts | Absentee processing |
| Virginia Code Ann. §§ 24.2-633 (LAT), 24.2-604.5 (neutral reps), 24.2-604.4 (party+cand reps), 24.2-671 (electoral bd mtg), 24.2-802.1 (recount) | Partisans | Partisans + others authorized by local office | Partisans + others authorized by local office @ audits + recounts | Canvass |
| Washington RCW 29A.40.100, 29A.60.170, 29A.12.130, 29A.64.041 | Public | Public | Partisans + others authorized by local office @ audits + recounts | |
| West Virginia Code §§3-4A-26, 3-1-37, 3-4A-27, 3-6-9, 3-4A-28; WV State Rules 153-20-6.2 | Public | Public | Audits + recounts | Canvass |
| Wisconsin Stat. §§ 5.84, 7.41, 6.88, 7.52, 7.51, 7.60, 9.01(3) | Public | Public | Audits + recounts | Canvass |
| Wyoming Stat. Ann. §§ 22-10-108, 22-11-104, 22-15-109 | Partisans |
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