Poll Monitor FAQ
“Ojo Asé: Black Women Answering the Call is a multifaceted, intergenerational Voting Rights Campaign that centers Black Women’s invaluable contribution to the nation’s democracy. Join the Lawyers’ Committee and the Global Black Economic Forum in giving Black women their flowers for the tireless contribution to laying down the cobblestones of our nation’s democracy in our search to honor Black women doing the work in their local municipalities and state affairs.
This election cycle, we’re asking Black women to show up as poll monitors because Black women have historically been the unsung heroes of answering the call for our democracy time and time again. From Fannie Lou Hammer who registered voters in the south, to Dorothy Height who advocated against voter suppression – the Lawyers’ Committee is confident in the power and magic of Black women to help us protect this historic upcoming general election. Poll monitoring is a duty to honor and protect the sacred ballot of voters nationwide, and the Lawyers’ Committee will join hands with Black women who answer the call for the future of this nation.
Q: What is a poll monitor?
A: As a nonpartisan poll monitor, a volunteer would be physically present outside of a polling location to assist with the following:
- Reporting any voting problems at the polling location with your state’s Election Protection Command Center
- Helping ensure voters feel supported and confident upon arrival and departure of the polling location
- Providing Election Protection nonpartisan information for voters who have questions about voting hours, acceptable voting identification, or other common voting inquiries specific to their state, and
- Ensuring that voters have access to our nonpartisan Election Protection hotline 866-OUR-VOTE. (Poll monitors need to attend state specific training but do not need to be certified by election officials).
Q: What kind of training is involved to become a poll monitor?
A: Training for Poll Monitors is facilitated by a state-led Election Protection coalition. Each Poll Monitor training is tailored to each individual state to account for differing state laws and local regulations..
Poll Monitor trainings are held frequently and both virtually and in-person for volunteers who are interested in joining Election Protection efforts.
Poll monitors need to attend training to become a poll monitor, but do not need to be certified by election officials. For more information on how to get involved with your local poll monitor training opportunities, you can sign-up here.
Q: What’s the difference between a poll monitor and poll watcher?
A: Some individuals, parties and campaigns may also be outside the polling place, calling themselves “poll watchers” or “election observers” or a similar term.
A ‘Poll Watcher’ or ‘Election Observer’ may be explicitly partisan and present at a polling location on behalf of a particular candidate or party.These individuals do not have the right to intimidate voters or disrupt the voting process.
A ‘Poll Monitor’ is a nonpartisan volunteer who is present to ensure that all voters have the opportunity to cast their votes freely and safely, with access to information that they may seek about polling hours, voting identification or reporting voting problems to 866-OUR-VOTE. A poll monitor is not present on behalf of a particular candidate, party or ballot measure.
Our Election Protection program is nonpartisan and not affiliated with any campaign or party. We recruit and train volunteer poll monitors who do not enter the polling place, except in limited circumstances. All Election Protection volunteers wear ‘Nonpartisan volunteer’ apparel to designate themselves as a volunteer of our national network of volunteers.
Q: Why are poll monitors essential to the Ojo Asé campaign?
A: Ojo Asé seeks to center Black women as part of the democratic process. One way we’re doing that is by recruiting Black women to become poll monitors via our Election Protection Network in their respective states for the Nov. 5th General Election. Black Women and individuals from the Black Community who are interested in joining the efforts of the Ojo Asé campaign, would be directly connected to our national network of statewide poll monitor training and efforts to join volunteers to ensure that Elections are protected and safe at various polling locations during early voting, and on Election Day.
Additionally, Ojo Asé is carving out a space for Black Women to be recognized and honored for joining our movement of Election Protection before and after Election Day.
Q: How do I get involved to be a poll monitor?
A: If you’re interested in becoming a poll monitor or learning more about the process, you can sign up here – and fill out the required information. From there, you will receive an email with resources and further instructions connecting you with your state’s Election Protection efforts!
