2024 Poll Watcher Information

[GetReadyMan]

STEP ONE:

You’ll have to go through four steps to become a certified poll watcher. The first step is to take the Secretary of State Watcher training course here: On-line SoS Poll Watcher Training

This is what the first page looks like: (Click on images to enlarge)

There are 30 screens that you have to read. It will only take about 15 minutes. Click on the right arrow at the bottom of the page to move to the next screen. The training explains who can be a watcher and what the watchers can and cannot do.

At the end there are three short questions. Here’s an example question:

When you complete the training, print out or screen capture the completion certificate. You will need to show the completion certificate to the County Clerk when you are sworn-in.

[GetReadyMan]

STEP TWO:

You will need to prove that you are a registered voter. You can go here to find you voter registration: Find my voter registration.

Here’s what the first screen looks like: (Click on images to enlarge.)

Fill in the banks and press the Search button. Your voter registration proof will look like the image below. Print out or screen capture your voter registration proof. You will need to show your proof of voter registration to the County Clerk when you are sworn-in.

[GetReadyMan]

STEP THREE:

Poll Watchers:

Next you will need to fill out a Certificate of Appointment and have it signed by an appointing agent.

CertificateApptOathWatcher.pdf (254.7 KB)

On the first page, check the box for “General or Congressional Vacancy Election”. If the Republican party is appointing you, check the “Political party” box.

On the second page, check the box that says “All Locations”. Don’t fill out the “Appointment of Watcher” section until you get a certifying individual to sign. (Note: “Year of Birth” is the year of birth of the watcher.) Don’t fill out the “Oath of Watcher” section until you are administered the oath at the County Clerk’s office.

For the 2024 general election, the chairman of the Chaffee County Republican Party can sign your certificate of appointment. The chairman of the Chaffee County Republicans is Dave Williams. You can reach him at chair@chaffeecogop.org

If you can’t reach Dave, contact me at admin@chaffeespeaks.com

You must be registered as a Republican for the Republican Party to appoint you as a poll watcher. If you need to change your party affiliation, see the post below entitled “Changing your Party Affiliation”.

You can be appointed as a poll watcher on behalf of multiple appointing authorities. Why is this good? An appointing authority can only have one watcher at a time in any location. If you have multiple appointments, you can remain in place if another watcher arrives.

Drop Box Watchers:

If you want to be a poll watcher for drop boxes, you must fill out a drop box certificate of appointment. You must state where, when, and which drop box you plan to watch.

CertificateApptOathWatcher - Drop Box.pdf (202.8 KB)

Drop box watchers need to provide their own badges that clearly state “Official Election Watcher for [insert appointing entity]” in bold-faced type. You will need to show this badge and have it approved by Chaffee County Election staff when you get sworn in. If a drop box watcher is appointed by multiple entities, they must have a badge for each appointing entity.

Drop box watchers must remain outside a six-foot zone around any drop box. Any person can drop off up to ten mail-in ballots at one time. (Click on image to enlarge)

As far as I know, there will be two drop boxes in Chaffee County: one in front of the Chaffee County Courthouse in Salida and another inside the Buena Vista Post Office.

You can serve as both a poll watcher and a drop box poll watcher.

You will need to give all of your appointment forms to the Appointing Agent.

[GetReadyMan]

STEP FOUR:

The appointing agent must submit your documents to the County Clerk’s election office.

Poll Watchers Will Need the Following Documents:

• Completion certificate from the Secretary of State’s Poll Watcher Training
• Proof of voter registration
• Certificate of Appointment signed by an appointing individual

Drop Box Watchers Will Need the Following Documents:

• Completion certificate from the Secretary of State’s Poll Watcher Training
• Proof of voter registration
• Certificate of Appointment for drop boxes signed by an appointing individual
• A copy of the badge you will wear while watching the drop box

Once the documents are stamped by the Clerk, they will be returned to you by the appointing agent. The appointing agent has until Thursday, October 24, 2024 to submit your documents to the Clerk.

You will take the oath of a poll watcher when you first check-in to poll watch.

That’s it! You’re a Poll Watcher!

[GetReadyMan]

HOW TO POLL WATCH:

The Clerk will provide a schedule of election activities at the beginning of the election. When you show up to one of the activities ask for the watcher contact. You will be asked to sign-in at a log. You will be given a watcher badge.

You’ll will want to take a notebook to take notes of the activities. Take a red or green pen to make notes.

If you see something that does not seem right, write down in your notebook the place, time, and the people involved. Report any unusual activity to the watcher contact. If you are not satisfied that the watcher contact has resolved the problem, report it to the County and State Republican party.

Never show the contents of your notebook to anyone.

If you are watching at a polling center, take a few copies of the voter challenge form with you. (See below.)

[GetReadyMan]

CHALLENGING VOTERS:

Poll watchers can challenge voters if they believe:

• they are not US citizens,
• they don’t live in the County,
• they are too young to vote.

Use the form below to challenge voters who are voting in-person at the polling centers.

In Person Voter Challenge.pdf (189.8 KB)

If you know of someone who was received a mail-on ballot that should not have, use the form below to challenge their vote.

Mail Ballot Voter Challen.pdf (265.4 KB)

[GetReadyMan]

CHANGING YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION:

To change your party affiliation, visit the Find My Voter Registration page.

Once you’ve located your voter registration, click the EDIT button at the bottom of the page. Enter your Colorado driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number, or both. (Tip: Include the dashes in your driver’s license number.) Follow the prompts to complete the process.

Your changes should take effect within two to three days.