Take Five for a Free and Fair Election

The key to effective poll watching is to remember why we do it: To ensure a free and fair election. 

We are not there to pick fights with the Republicans or to show the judges how much smarter we are or to demand a perfect process.  Elections are human affairs and not subject to perfection.  But we can make a strong stand for a free and fair election by taking five simple tips with us to poll-watch:

1.  Keep your eyes open.  Bad actors are much, much less likely to engage in malfeasance if they know someone is watching.  You don't have to understand each and every way that someone could misbehave at the polls, just your presence as an active observer will make election fraud a risk not worth taking.

2. Ask polite questions.  If you see something suspicious or that you just don't understand, start by asking a polite question. 

A polite question can make the judges aware of inadvertent misbehavior, for example: "Excuse me, why are judges directing voters to the touch screen machines?"  Polite questions can alert judges to misbehavior they may be unaware of:  "Pardon me, should that man be wearing a Ron Paul button?"  And polite questions can let judges know that you are aware that things have gone terribly, terribly wrong:  "Could you explain why there are no Democratic ballots at this polling place?" 

Most importantly, polite questions let the judges know that you are paying attention to what is happening at the polling place.

3. Call 630.234.6171 (my cell number) if your polite question and polite follow up do not get a satisfactory response.  

If you ask about the guy with the Ron Paul button and the judges ask him to take it off and he does, you should record the incident on your log sheet, but there is probably no need to call it in.  But if the judges continue to misbehave or allow misbehavior, be sure to call it in.  By calling serious or repeated incidents in, you can get back to observing the polling place while we take care of follow-up and reporting the incident to the election authorities.  Your time is best spent observing the polling place, not making multiple phone calls. 

4.  Be there before the polls open and write down the judges' names and party affiliation right away.

While we all hope that the election will take place without incident, odds are that something will go wrong somewhere.  And you don't want to be trying to get the judges' information when things are all ready going wrong at the polling place.  By getting the judges' information first thing on election day, you will have that on hand if there is an incident to report.  Incident reports to the election authorities will be taken much more seriously if we can tell them that the bad actor is "Republican Judge Joe Smith" rather than "The mean judge with the mustache in the red sweater."

5.  Keep your eyes open.  I know this is a repeat but it is by far the most important thing. 

When it comes to ensuring a fair voting process, your vigilance is the best deterrent against dirty tricks.  By letting the poll workers know that you are paying attention to the process, they will know that they may be held accountable if they don't do things right.  So pay attention and take notes.  And if you can't pay attention and take notes, pay attention.  And if you can't pay attention, at least look like you're paying attention.

If you have any burning questions about poll-watching between now and Tuesday, please e-mail me at justinmajor@gmail.com or leave me a message at 630.234.6171.

Thanks again for being a poll-watcher and standing up for free and fair elections in DuPage County.

-- Justin J. Major