Coming this November to North Carolina polling places: Partisan election 'observers'
When North Carolinians show up to vote this fall, they’ll be joined at their polling places by groups of partisan “observers” watching the ballot process and taking notes.
They’re part of a new elections law that took effect this year, touted by Republicans as a new layer of security in a battleground state with presidential and governor’s races atop the ballot this cycle. As votes are cast in-person starting in October, volunteers from both parties will keep an eye on precincts across the state.
Observers are instructed under SB 747 to be seen, but not heard. They’re allowed to walk around the precinct, listening in on conversations about the administration of the election. But they can’t directly interact with voters or look at filled-out ballots.
Even with those restrictions, their presence — and explicit political affiliations — will be a novelty in polling places, with voters across the ideological spectrum set to cast ballots in the first general election since the law was enacted.
https://ncnewsline.com/2024/09/09/coming-this-november-to-north-carolina-polling-places-partisan-election-observers/
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