It’s finally here. Election Day 2016.
If you’re not one of the more than 255,000 registered voters in Pima who has already cast a ballot, today is the day to get to the polls.
It’s understandable if you’re feeling a bit cautious due to all the talk of self-appointed, unofficial “election observers” who intend to “monitor” polling places.
Don’t let trepidation keep you from casting your vote. There are rules about what people can do — and what they can’t do.
We asked Pima County Elections Director Brad Nelson what is allowed at Pima County’s roughly 230 polling locations, and what to do if you encounter someone you think is being intimidating inside or outside your polling place.
WHO CAN BE AN OBSERVER
IN A POLLING PLACE?
There are two kinds of election observers. Official observers, appointed and assigned to precincts by the county political parties, are allowed to watch what’s happening inside the polling place. “Unofficial observers” are individuals who take it upon themselves to go to polling places to watch what’s happening.
Official observers are allowed, by state statute, to be inside a polling place. Unofficial observers are not. Only voters, pollworkers and one official observer from each county political party are allowed in the polling place.
Only one observer from each county political party is allowed inside at one time, and their names must be on the list the parties submitted to the Pima County Elections Department last Friday.
Republicans submitted 96 names; Democrats, 52.
Before they can be admitted to a polling place, an official observer must present a letter of appointment, on county party letterhead, and their name must be on the list.
Official observers are there to watch. They’re not allowed to sit at the tables with poll workers. They can’t touch election materials or equipment. And if they see something they think is wrong or questionable, they can only ask the head poll worker, known as the inspector, to check it out.
Official observers are not allowed to talk to voters in the polling place, or within the 75-foot limit of the polling place.
WHAT ABOUT ‘UNOFFICIAL OBSERVERS’?
No one is allowed to speak to a voter or take a voter’s photo within 75 feet of the polling place. Anyone who is there campaigning also must stay 75 feet outside the polling place. There should be a sign, often in the parking lot, that marks that limit.
If someone is hanging out in the parking lot of your polling place and you are concerned, Nelson advises telling the poll workers inside or calling the Pima County Election Office at 724-6830.
You are not obligated to speak with anyone you don’t wish to. If someone approaches you inside the polling place, or approaches you outside and you don’t want to talk, tell a poll worker.
Arizona is an open carry state, which means it is legal to carry a firearm in public. If you feel threatened, tell the poll worker, call the elections office or the police.
However, ARS title 13 makes it illegal to have a weapon inside a polling place (and by extension within the 75-foot limit), except for law enforcement personnel.
CHALLENGING VOTERS’ LEGITIMACY?
Anyone can challenge a voter’s ability to cast a ballot, but only for two specific reasons: the person is not registered to vote in Arizona, or the person has already voted in this election.
If that happens, the person challenging will notify the poll worker, who will then take over. The challenger is not allowed to question the prospective voter. The poll worker will ask the person some questions, and perhaps call the Pima County Recorder’s Office to verify registration.
If the issue isn’t resolved, the person who has been challenged will be allowed to vote using a provisional ballot, which will be verified by election officials before being counted.
EARLY BALLOTS AND
THE COURTS
The courts have gone back and forth on a lawsuit over Arizona’s “ballot harvesting” law, which makes it illegal for a person to turn in others’ early ballots, with a few exceptions, such as for family.
Nelson said that, under directions from the Arizona Secretary of State’s office, all early ballots turned in, including at the polls today, will be counted.
If you have a concern or a problem at the polls, call the Pima County Elections Department at 724-6830 or the Arizona Secretary of State at 1-877-843-8683.
For questions about voter registration or early ballots, the Pima County Recorder is your best bet, at 724-4330.
