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POLL WATCHER INFORMATION AND RULES

(Section 101.131, Florida Statutes)

1. Each Political party and each candidate may have ONE poll watcher in each polling room or early voting area at any time during the election. A political committee formed for the specific purpose of expressly advocating the passage or defeat of an issue on the ballot may have one watcher for each polling room or early voting area at any one time during the election.

2. Each party, each political committee and each candidate shall designate in writing, prior to Noon of the second Tuesday preceding the election poll watchers for each polling room on election day.

3. Designation of poll watchers for early voting shall be submitted in writing at least 14 days before early voting begins.   

4. A poll watcher must be a qualified registered elector in Orange County.

5. NO candidate, sheriff, deputy sheriff, policeman, or other law enforcement officer may be designated as a poll watcher.

6. Poll watchers are required to furnish their own materials and necessities.

7. Poll watchers are allowed within the polling room to observe and may sit close enough to hear the voter's name, they shall pose any questions regarding polling place procedures DIRECTLY to the Clerk for resolution. THEY MAY NOT INTERACT WITH VOTERS.

8. List of approved poll watchers is sent to each precinct or early voting area having poll watchers.

9. Poll watchers are prohibited from wearing political advertisements and other political paraphernalia such as t-shirts, buttons, hats, etc., while they are observing in the polling room. (Division of Elections opinion DE 82-13 -- June 23, 1982)

Rev. 12-2007


Due to the Jessica Lunsford Act and the School Usage Agreement with Orange County Public Schools, a background check must be conducted on any poll watcher assigned to work at a public school. The Orange County Supervisor of Elections will NOT be conducting these background checks. Indicate on your submitted list, in the space provided, which poll watchers have had a background check conducted. ONLY those poll watchers indicated thus will be allowed into a polling place, which is a public school.

Use the enclosed forms to designate poll watchers, if any, and submit to Supervisor of Elections, 119 W. Kaley St., Orlando, FL  32806, by the due dates and times shown below. To submit by mail, P.O. Box 562001, Orlando, FL 32856 to submit by fax 407-254-6596. Be aware that postmark dates do not apply. Form must be received on due dates and times listed below.

MUST BE RECEIVED IN SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE ON DATES SHOWN BELOW.  POST MARK DATES ARE NOT HONORED.

PRIMARY ELECTION – AUGUST 26, 2008

POLL WATCHERS FOR EARLY VOTING:

RECEIVED BY                                                EARLY VOTING BEGINS            

    CLOSE OF BUSINESS DAY                            Monday, August 11, 2008

   Tuesday, July 28, 2008                                            

 

*POLL WATCHERS FOR PRECINCTS:

 

RECEIVED BY                                               

     

NOON, Tuesday, August 12, 2008        

 

GENERAL ELECTION – NOVEMBER 4, 2008

 

POLL WATCHERS FOR EARLY VOTING:

    

RECEIVED BY                                                EARLY VOTING BEGINS            

      

CLOSE OF BUSINESS DAY                            Monday, October 20, 2008

Tuesday, October 6, 2008                                  

 

*POLL WATCHERS FOR PRECINCTS:

 

RECEIVED BY                                               

     

NOON, Tuesday, October 21, 2008        

 

 

*Due to the Jessica Lunsford Act and the School Usage Agreement with Orange County Public Schools, a background check must be conducted on any poll watcher assigned to work at a public school. The Orange County Supervisor of Elections will NOT be conducting these background checks. Indicate on your submitted lists which poll watchers have had a background check conducted. ONLY those poll watchers indicated thus will be allowed into a polling place which is a public school.

 

 

 POLL WATCHER DESIGNATIONS / EARLY VOTING

      

TO:              Supervisor of Election                                  Date   __________

      

FR:            Party/Committee/Candidate:__________________________________

      

Telephone Number_________________(Day)_________________(Eve)

      

The following persons, subject to verification, are designated as poll watchers and assigned to early voting sites shown.  (Please Print)      ______________________________________________________________________

Poll watcher's Name       Reg. No. or      Assigned to      From - To         Election

 (as  registered)          Birth date          Early Voting      Hrs in site        use only

                                                   Site                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POLL WATCHER DESIGNATIONS / PRECINCTS ELECTION DAY

      

TO:              Supervisor of Elections                                Date__________

      

FR:            Party/Committee/Candidate:__________________________________

      

Telephone Number_________________(Day)_________________(Eve)

      

The following persons, subject to verification, are designated as poll watchers and assigned to precincts listed.  (Please Print)      ______________________________________________________________________

Poll watcher's Name       Reg. No. or      Assigned to    Background        Election

 (as  registered)          Birth date           Pct. #                                  check yes/no       use only