POLLING PLACE & POLL WATCHER INFORMATION & FORMS

POLLING PLACE ACTIVITIES
Electors, Poll Workers and Poll Watchers
(§ 101.131 and 102.031, Florida Statutes)
 

PERSONS ALLOWED IN POLLING PLACE

The polling room or early voting site is the place where electors cast their votes. The list of persons permitted in the polling place is defined in Section 102.031, Florida Statutes, as:

• Persons there to vote

• Persons in the care of a voter

• Persons caring for a voter

• Persons assisting with or participating in simulated elections for minors

• Supervisor of Elections and/or his or her deputy

• Election clerks and inspectors

• Official poll watchers

• Law enforcement officers and/or emergency service personnel (with the permission of the clerk or a majority of the inspectors)

Election boards have the full authority to maintain reasonable control and decorum at the polls including directing or removing persons within the polling room who otherwise are disrupting the electoral process.

Poll watchers shall pose any questions regarding the polling place procedures directly to the Precinct Clerk for resolution. They may not interact with voters. Each poll watcher shall be a qualified and registered elector of Brevard County.

SOLICITATION AREA

No person, political committee, committee of continuous existence, or other group or organization may solicit voters inside the polling place or early voting site or within 100 feet of the entrance to any polling place or early voting site.

POLL WATCHERS

Poll watchers are approved initially by the Supervisor of Elections and are subject to the reasonable control of local election boards as are other individuals within the polling room. As a poll watcher, they are acting in an official capacity within the polling place and should look, act and be impartial and fair, thus avoiding any thought or suggestion of undue influence or impropriety.

WEARING OF CAMPAIGN OR POLITICAL PARAPHERNALIA

Poll watchers are not permitted to wear political advertisements or campaign paraphernalia while acting in their official capacity within the polling place or room. Electors’ wearing of campaign or political advertisements is not a violation unless the wearer makes overtures at the polling place of advocacy of a particular candidate or his/her views regarding an issue on the ballot.

PROHIBITED CAMPAIGN MATERIAL

Prohibited political advertisements or campaign paraphernalia for both poll workers and poll watchers include the following: clothing, buttons, hats, wristbands, badges and other similar items that promote the election or defeat of a candidate or issue or engages in campaign sloganeering associated with any party, candidate or issue. For example, any letter (e.g., "W"), phrase (e.g., "Every Voter Counts" or "Flip-Flop"), or any other indications that is or has become directly or indirectly associated with a political party, candidate or group. Wearing of campaign or political advertisements by electors is not a violation unless the wearer makes overtures at the polling place in advocacy of a particular candidate or his/her views regarding an issue on the ballot.

EXCEPTIONS (ITEMS PERMITTED AND DISALLOWED) FOR ELECTORS

Electors may take papers or other aids into the voting booth to refresh their memory and assist in expediting the voting process provided such use does not appear to be part of a concerted effort by any individual or group to subvert the normal election process. According to Section 104.19(1)(a), Florida Statutes, it is unlawful for any person casting a ballot to use stickers or rubber stamps or to carry into a voting booth any mechanical device, paper or memorandum which might be used to affect adversely the normal voting election process. Violation is punishable as a second degree misdemeanor.

POLLING PLACE & POLL WATCHER FORMS

1. Polling Places for Rockledge (compiled by the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections) – List of Precincts & Locations

2. Solicitation at Polls (BCSOE Form)

3. Poll Watcher Application Form (BCSOE Form)

4. Poll Watcher Instructions (supplied by BCSOE)