Gather around class … it’s time for a civics lesson.

Yes, I know we don’t teach this much anymore in our public schools, yet it is a vital lesson in the way Americans choose their leaders on Election Day.

What are poll workers? What are poll watchers? And what’s the difference?

Poll Workers

One of the wonderful things about the American way of selecting its leaders is its decentralized system of voting.

In each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, there are multiple locations from north to south, and east to west, where registered voters can go to a polling place near their home and cast their ballot in person.

In each of these polling places, a minimum of three workers are elected in years following the presidential election to operate elections for four years – a judge of elections, a majority inspector, and a minority inspector.

Don’t let the names fool you. The highest vote-getter for inspector is the majority inspector, while the second-highest is named minority inspector. Party affiliation does not factor into the designation of “majority” nor “minority” inspector.

In addition, numerous additional workers are brought in to assist this trio, depending on the size of the voting district. These include clerks who check voters in at polling places and machine operators who show them how to use the voting equipment. Combined, the total of poll workers in larger counties can easily exceed 1,000.

Election officers must meet certain eligibility requirements under Pennsylvania law. The Commonwealth’s Election Code requires that all election officers be qualified, registered voters of the district (the election district or precinct of a municipality), in which they are elected or appointed. Individuals who appear on the ballot and federal, state, and local government officials and employees cannot serve as poll workers (subject to exceptions for district judges, notaries public, and members of the Pennsylvania National Guard).

These are the champions of democracy. They are your friends and your neighbors. For the hours of preparation for the primary and general election days, election officials receive between $100-200 depending on the decision of county election boards. With work days that can begin at 5 a.m. and conclude well after the closing of the polls at 8 p.m., that is not a great hourly rate.

The judge of elections maintains ultimate responsibility for the conduct of the polling place and the people working there. In addition to the election officers, each county’s constable, or elected peace officer, is charged by Pennsylvania statute with maintaining order at polling locations and ensuring that no qualified voter is obstructed from voting. Constables must answer to the governor.

Poll Watchers

Poll watchers are not new to Pennsylvania elections. Both major parties use poll watchers to represent them at the local precincts. While they cannot interfere with voters or voting, they can alert an election official if they see anything unusual.

Unfortunately, poll watchers have become a heated topic of conversation as former President Donald Trump made false and/or misleading claims about them following the 2020 presidential election.

Similar to election officers, a poll watcher must be a registered voter of the county in which the polling place is located. Unlike poll workers, poll watchers must be identified, receive official county credentials in advance, and be assigned to specific precincts.

Poll watchers are not elected. Rather, they are selected by their party and must obtain a certificate from the county election office, which states the poll watcher’s name and the name of the candidate, party, or political body the poll watcher represents. Poll watchers are required to show their certificates to the local board of elections when requested to do so. If a poll watcher loses their certificate or if the certificate is destroyed, the poll watcher may appear before the Court of Common Pleas on election day and, after swearing an oath or affirmation, may immediately receive a replacement watcher’s certificate issued by the Court.

There are limits to the number of poll watchers who can serve at each polling place, as each candidate may appoint two (2) poll watchers for each polling location in which the candidate appears on the ballot. Each political party and political body which has nominated candidates on the ballot may appoint three (3) poll watchers for each election district at any general, municipal or special election in which the candidates of such party or body are on the ballot.

As an example, Centre County has 92 polling locations. Each federal or statewide candidate is entitled by law to appoint 184 poll watchers to cover the county’s 1,115 square miles. In addition, each party is entitled to have a maximum of 276 poll watchers. In precinct 44-2 (College West PSU), there are eight races, so if candidates are able to mobilize the maximum number of poll watchers, things could get a bit crowded.

However, only one poll watcher may be present at one time for each candidate and political party/body.

What Can a Poll Watcher Do?

Poll watchers are permitted inside the polling place but are not permitted to engage with with voters in the location. Watchers can keep a list of voters, inspect the numbered list of voters (but only when no voters are in the polling place and under supervision of a poll worker), make good-faith challenges to an elector’s identity or residence in the district, and lodge permitted challenges directly with the Judge of Elections.

What Poll Watchers Cannot Do

This is where problems can arise in a polling place if workers and watchers are not properly trained.

Watchers may not make challenges to an elector’s identity, residence in the district or qualifications as an eligible voter based on race, national origin, appearance, surname, language, religion, or other characteristic not relevant to the qualifications to vote.

Watchers may not engage in “electioneering,” or attempting to solicit votes or handing out campaign paraphernalia while they are inside the polling place or within 10 feet of its entrance.

And watchers may not engage in any form of voter intimidation. This includes any activity by a poll watcher that threatens, harasses, or intimidates voters, including any activity that is intended to, or has the effect of, interfering with any voter’s right to vote, whether it occurs outside the polling place or inside the polling place, is illegal under federal and Pennsylvania law.

Examples of voter intimidation include but are not limited to:

• Photographing, recording or videotaping voters
• Disseminating false or misleading election information to voters
• Blocking the entrance to a polling place
• Confronting, hovering, or directly speaking to or questioning voters
• Engaging in threatening behavior
• Asking voters for documentation

While the Judge of Elections at the polling place may not deter or interfere with a duly appointed watcher who is exercising their privileges as a watcher, the Judge of Elections is obligated to remove a watcher who is engaging in activities that are prohibited, including those referenced here.

The Judge of Elections has a duty to maintain order and ensure that the rules are being followed at the polling place. A Judge of Elections may call upon a constable, deputy constable, police officer, or other peace officer to aid in maintaining order.

And there you have it. Class dismissed and remember to study for the final exam on November 5.

Official guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of State