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Poll Watcher Guidelines & Procedures

Official procedures based on Tennessee Election Laws to ensure the integrity, transparency, and purity of the electoral process.

I. Appointment of Poll Watchers

Poll watchers serve as observers to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. They may be appointed by the following entities:

🏛️ Political Parties

Each recognized political party may officially appoint watchers to observe the election process.

👤 Candidates

Each candidate in a primary election and each independent candidate in a general election may appoint watchers.

👥 Citizen Organizations

Any organization of citizens interested in a question on the ballot or in preserving the purity of elections and guarding against abuse of the elective franchise.

II. Appointment Requirements & Limitations

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Submission Deadline: The names of all poll watchers must be submitted to the county election commission no later than 12:00 noon on the second working day before the election.
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Form of Appointment: Appointments must be in writing and signed by the authorized person or the head of the organization making the appointment.
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Quantity per Polling Place:
- Political parties and citizen organizations may appoint up to two (2) watchers per polling place.
- Individual candidates may appoint one (1) or more watchers; however, only one (1) watcher per candidate is permitted in the polling place at any given time.
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Eligibility:
- Watchers must be residents of the state and at least 17 years of age.
- A candidate's spouse is ineligible to serve as a poll watcher.
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Evidence of Authority: The county election commission may require a citizen's organization to provide evidence that they are legally entitled to appoint watchers.

III. Authorized Locations

Poll watchers are strictly authorized to observe proceedings at the following locations:

📍 Election Day Precincts

📍 Early Voting Locations

🏥 Specialized Facilities

📊 Counting Boards

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTE: Watchers at the absentee counting board may not leave the room once counting has begun until all ballots are processed.

IV. Rights and Duties of Poll Watchers

Arrival Protocol: Upon arrival, a watcher must display their appointment to the Officer of Elections, sign the Register of Poll Watchers, and wear a badge provided by the commission displaying their name and organization at all times.

✅ Authorized Actions

• Watch and inspect the performance of all election duties.
• Inspect poll lists, tally sheets, and the condition of voting machines during preparation and certification.
• Inspect ballots while they are being called and counted.
• Challenge a person’s right to vote, provided the challenge is issued through the judges.
• Present protests regarding any aspect of the election conduct to the Officer of Elections or the County Election Commission.

🚫 Prohibited Actions

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Voter Interference: Interfering with any voter while they are preparing or casting a ballot.
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Official Interference: Preventing election officials from performing their statutory duties.
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Voter Assistance: Observing the act of assistance being given to a voter in a manner that reveals how the voter is marking their ballot.
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Direct Interaction: Speaking to, greeting, or standing in doorways to signal voters.
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Electronic Devices: Possessing electronic devices (including phones) while observing the absentee counting board.
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Campaigning: Wearing or displaying any campaign material (e.g., buttons, flyers) inside the 100-foot boundary.