ELECTIONS

Poll watchers will be a part of the election process

Oct 12, 2020, 11:09 AM | Updated: 4:53 pm

voting poll watchers...

FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2020, file photo, a voter casts a ballot at a drive-thru voting station in the Barre Civic Center in Vermont's statewide primary in Barre, Vt. Voting will look a little different this November. States are considering drive-thrus, outdoor polling places and curbside voting as they examine creative ways to safely offer same-day polling places during a pandemic. Poll watchers may play a part in ensuring the process is fair and equitable. (AP Photo/Lisa Rathke, File)

(AP Photo/Lisa Rathke, File)

SALT LAKE CITY — This week registered voters will start to get their mail-in ballots in Utah. And from now past election night, volunteer poll watchers are keeping an eye on the process.

Candidates, groups, and political parties have poll watchers, and state law allows it.

Officials say they welcome the extra eyes.

“I think it is imperative to have third parties check the process,” said Utah County Clerk/Auditor Amelia Powers Gardner. “I think it is great to have confidence in our elections.”

Gardner says her office facilitates and welcomes poll watchers. They cut large windows in the wall of the ballot center so anyone from the public could watch the tabulation.

How poll watchers do their work

Davis County Clerk/Auditor Curtis Koch says poll watchers don’t just come on election night. They can watch as workers tabulate and verify Utah’s mail-in ballots for the next three weeks.

“The caveat is, based on the election area that they are watching, there can be limited poll watchers (because of social distancing). So we do give preference to candidates, initiatives and political parties,” said Koch.

Related coverage: 

Some poll watcher volunteers come from the ACLU of Utah. Voting Rights Coordinator Niki Venugopal says she wants them to report any major issues at a polling place to the ACLU.

“But we are not expecting those,” she said.

Venugopal says volunteers are also driving around the counties in Utah, checking secure locked boxes. Though she said they have not had any issues with drop boxes before, either.

Poll watching on social media

She also assigns ACLU volunteers to watch social media.

“We are all inundated on our social media feeds with a lot of information and not a lot is accurate,” said Venugopal. The watchers are supposed to look out for attempts to mislead voters or suppress voters with misinformation or disinformation.

Powers does a lot of correcting people online as well. She reminds them that elections are different state by state and even county by county.

“That can cause some confusion if you see your cousin in California posting something that’s different than in Utah County,” she said.

She said people should go to the source to get the information for their location.  Then share correct information and give your county clerk’s website or vote.utah.gov.

Koch says knowing the facts helps with public trust in the elections.

“We have wonderful staff that are your friends and neighbors that are running this election. And that’s what you see statewide. That’s part of the security of the system.”

Read more about the rules for poll watchers in various states here

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Elections

Former President Donald Trump, speaks to reporters as he leaves the courtroom during a lunch break ...

ERIC TUCKER, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and TERRY SPENCER

Judge rejects Trump’s bid to throw out classified documents case

A federal judge on Thursday rejected a bid by Donald Trump to throw out out his classified documents criminal case.

14 days ago

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally Saturda...

JILL COLVIN Associated Press

Trump wins delegates needed to become GOP’s presumptive nominee for third straight election

With wins in Georgia, Mississippi and Washington state, Trump surpassed the 1,215-delegate threshold needed to become the presumptive Republican nominee.

15 days ago

President Joe Biden speaks in Columbia, S.C., Jan. 27, 2024....

ZEKE MILLER AP White House Correspondent

President Joe Biden has won enough delegates to clinch the 2024 Democratic nomination

President Joe Biden, clinched a second straight Democratic nomination Tuesday and set up an all-but-certain rematch with Donald Trump

16 days ago

Caucus Republican...

Curt Gresseth

Utah GOP chair addresses Super Tuesday caucus meltdown

The Utah GOP chair acknowledged some caucus meetings saw"challenges" on Super Tuesday, but he said overall things went smoothly.

22 days ago

Republicans gather at Olympus High School in Holladay for caucus meetings on Tuesday, March 5, 2024...

Becky Bruce

Utah GOP party members differ on 2024 caucus turnout

The Utah GOP caucus turnout was three times as high in the 2020 presidential primary than yesterday, a Utah GOP caucus leader said.

22 days ago

People check in to caucus at Brighton High School on Tuesday, March 5....

Mariah Maynes

Utah voters share thoughts on Tuesday’s caucus

KSL NewsRadio's Aimee Cobabe spoke with voters at one caucus who shared their reasons for attending and their opinions of the experience. 

22 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Poll watchers will be a part of the election process