Texas Counties Deliver
Poll Watcher

This Poll Watcher’s Guide (PDF) is meant to help poll watchers understand their basic rights and duties. Ensuring fair and honest elections is important to all citizens. While poll watchers may be appointed by candidates, political parties, or political action committees, their main goal is to observe and help protect the integrity of the election process.

The role of a poll watcher is outlined in Chapter 33 of the Texas Election Code and is defined as follows:

Poll Watcher – a person appointed to observe the conduct of an election on behalf of:

  • a candidate,
  • a political party, or
  • the proponents or opponents of a measure (specific-purpose political action committees).

Certificate of Appointment Requirements:

To serve as a poll watcher, you must arrive with a complete Certificate of Appointment that includes:

  • Your name, home address, and voter registration number
  • The signature of the person(s) appointing you
  • The election name and precinct number where you'll serve
  • The role or title of the person making the appointment (e.g., candidate, party chair)
  • For elections involving measures, which measure you represent and your position (for or against)
  • An affidavit declaring you won’t possess any recording device unless it is turned off
  • Your signature

Required Training:

If you plan to vote in a different precinct than where you're serving, vote early before Election Day.

Oath Requirement:

You must take an oath administered by the election officer before beginning your duties.
(Required by Senate Bill 1, 2021, 2nd Called Session)

Poll Watcher Eligibility Requirements:

To serve, you must:

  • Be a registered voter of the territory (e.g., city, school district) covered by the election and of the county for November general elections for state and county officers (held on even-numbered years), primary elections, or other countywide elections; [Sec. 33.031]
  • NOT be a candidate for public office in an election held on the day the watcher seeks to serve; [Sec. 33.032]
  • NOT hold an elective public office; [Sec. 33.034]
  • NOT be an employee of an election judge or clerk serving at the same polling place; [Sec. 33.033]
  • NOT have been finally convicted of an offense in connection with conduct directly attributable to an election; [Sec. 33.035] and
  • NOT be related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity (as determined by Tex. Gov’t Code, Secs. 573.022-573.025) to an election judge or clerk serving at that polling place. These include spouses, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. A watcher may be related to the candidate the watcher is representing. [Sec. 33.033].

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