Become a Poll Watcher
Thank you for your interest in becoming a poll watcher! Poll watchers play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of our electoral process. By volunteering as a poll watcher, you contribute to making sure our elections are fair, transparent, and free from irregularities. Your participation helps uphold the principle that it should be easy to vote, but hard to cheat.
How to Become a Poll Watcher in Virginia
Becoming a poll watcher in Virginia is a straightforward process. Here’s how you can get involved:
- Confirm Your Eligibility: To become a poll watcher, you must be a citizen of the United States and a registered voter in Virginia. Additionally, you should have a keen interest in safeguarding the electoral process.
- Take the VFE Zoom/In-Person Poll Watcher classes: You can attend these classes by zoom or in-person on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings. See the above related button or appropriate links to Zoom training registration.
- Become Appointed: Poll watchers are usually appointed by political parties, candidates, or nonpartisan organizations. Contact your local party office, candidate’s campaign, or a civic organization to express your interest and ask them to approve you. They will guide you through the necessary steps to get appointed.
- State Training: It’s important to be well-prepared for your role. The Virginia Department of Elections, along with local election offices, often provide training sessions for poll watchers. These sessions cover the rules and regulations you need to follow, the procedures you will observe, and how to report any issues. You can find information for the training here. Consider taking supplemental trainings offered by third party groups as well.
- Become Certified: Once appointed, you will receive a poll watcher certification. You must carry this certification with you on Election Day to access polling places.
- On Election Day: As a poll watcher, your primary responsibilities include observing the opening and closing of polls, monitoring the voter check-in process, and ensuring that all election laws are followed. Remember, your role is to observe and report, not to interfere with the voting process.
We encourage you to join us in our mission to secure fair and free elections. By becoming a poll watcher, you play an essential part in maintaining the integrity of our sacred processes. Your vigilance ensures that every eligible voter can cast their ballot without obstacles, and that the election results are accurate and trustworthy. Together, we can make sure it remains easy to vote and hard to cheat. Become a guardian of our republic today!
Important Links
Letter-of-Authorization-Training-Copy.pdf (vafairelections.org)
Register for Clara Belle Wheeler’s Training
Election Observer Training – Training| Rise 360 (articulate.com)
