Name: What poll watchers can and can't do at Wisconsin voting sites
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What poll watchers can and can't do at Wisconsin voting sites

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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Although people coming out to monitor the voting process is nothing new — especially during a presidential election — the concept of poll watching has been in the spotlight recently.&nbsp;Last month during his debate with Democratic challenger Joe Biden, President Donald Trump urged his supporters to "go into the polls and watch very carefully." about who can watch the polls — and what they're allowed to do.Here's what to know in Wisconsin, whether you're interested in watching the voting take place or a voter wanting to ensure your right&nbsp;to vote is preserved.Anyone.In Wisconsin, poll watchers are called&nbsp;"election observers" — and anyone can do it, regardless of whether they are observing on behalf of a political party., only observers who've been trained by political parties&nbsp;are allowed to watch the polls. Otherwise, access is limited to voters and election workers.Observers do not need to be Wisconsin residents. They also don't have to be U.S. citizens or live in the U.S.Observers can go to locations offering early voting, which started Tuesday, Oct. 20.&nbsp;On Election Day, they can go to&nbsp;polling locations and central counts, where absentee ballots are counted&nbsp;in , including Milwaukee.The pandemic has brought an influx of absentee ballots into Milwaukee's&nbsp;&nbsp;as voters shy away from heading to the polls on Election Day during a pandemic.Observers can arrive as soon as the polls open.Those&nbsp;need to bring photo identification&nbsp;and check in with the chief election inspector, the person in charge of the voting site.They will also have to sign in and wear an election observer badge.Observers will then be shown where to sit and will be required to stay in that area.In Milwaukee, the number of election observers at smaller voting sites&nbsp;will be limited during early voting and on Nov. 3 because of the health and safety practices in place during the pandemic, Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Claire Woodall-Vogg said.At locations where only one observer can be present at a time, she said, observers would swap out so multiple people can observe there&nbsp;over the course of the day.Milwaukee election officials currently anticipate about 60 observers will be allowed at central count on Election Day, including 15 from each of the two major political parties. Central count will also be livestreamed to address concerns about limits on observers, she said.Observers are allowed to text or silently use their phones in polling places, but they cannot&nbsp;take videos or photos while the polls are open. Making or taking phone calls in the polling area is also prohibited.Members of the media may take videos and photos if doing so doesn't disrupt voting or reveal how someone voted.Observers can take photos and video at central count as long as they don't disrupt the process&nbsp;or show how someone voted.Election observers are limited in what they are allowed to do inside a voting site.They are prohibited from:They're also prohibited from "electioneering," defined in as "any activity which is intended to influence voting at an election."And while they can ask the chief inspector to see documents, including the poll list, observers cannot disrupt the process or see confidential voter information.&nbsp;Election observers must talk to the chief inspector if they think something isn't right.Observers who are eligible to vote in Wisconsin may challenge whether someone is eligible to vote by reporting this to the chief inspector.&nbsp;"Challenges must be supported by specific evidence related to the individual voter," according to . "Any individual who abuses the right to challenge may be subject to a lawful order of an election inspector to cease making challenges and removal from the polling place if the individual refuses to obey such an order."The Wisconsin Attorney General's Office on Monday &nbsp;that&nbsp;voter intimidation is illegal and that state law "prohibits anyone from using or threatening force to compel someone to vote, to keep them from voting, or to influence their voting decision."The statement cited "brandishing or displaying firearms in an intimidating or threatening manner in or near a polling place" as an example of intimidation, as well as behaving in a disorderly way and preventing polling place access through threats or intimidation.The statement also said federal and state laws prohibit "private groups" from performing law enforcement or military activities.Woodall-Vogg said chief inspectors&nbsp;are trained to expect additional election observers during presidential elections."With any election, I know there's lots of concerns about polling place safety and security and whether or not any observers could be there to intentionally cause any interference or intimidation," she said.She said chief inspectors at polling places and site supervisors at early voting locations are trained to maintain control over the polling place and ensure that no voter is experiencing intimidation or badgering."That won't be tolerated, so much so that if the observer isn't complying with the chief inspector, the next phone call is to the police," she said.Election officials, Woodall-Vogg said, are working closely with law enforcement in preparation for the election."In most years, our biggest threat are cybersecurity attacks ... this year we are facing more concerns around actual polling place safety."But, she said, officials are not aware of any imminent threat in Milwaukee, and election inspectors, chief inspectors and law enforcement will be trained on what is and is not allowed at polling places.She said there have been no substantiated reports of any rallies or events planned around early voting locations in Milwaukee.&nbsp;"We don't have any substantiated intelligence of anything like that being planned but it’s important for the public to know that voter intimidation doesn’t have a boundary,"&nbsp;she said, adding it's illegal regardless of where it takes place.Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383&nbsp;or . Follow her on Twitter .&nbsp;

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Although people coming out to monitor the voting process is nothing new — especially during a presidential election — the concept of poll watching has been in the spotlight recently.&nbsp;Last month during his debate with Democratic challenger Joe Biden, President Donald Trump urged his supporters to "go into the polls and watch very carefully." about who can watch the polls — and what they're allowed to do.Here's what to know in Wisconsin, whether you're interested in watching the voting take place or a voter wanting to ensure your right&nbsp;to vote is...

What poll watchers can and can't do at Wisconsin voting sites

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