ELECTION PREPAREDNESS
CITIZENS ELECTION OBSERVER (CEO) GUIDE
People are the CEO's of elections. And, like any executive, People must know something about how elections are conducted in order to be effective in taking responsibility for the success of elections. Elections are successful when they are transparent and verifiable. Only people can provide legitimacy to elections. Psephos is committed to being a resource for people who want to take action to legitimize their elections.
Psephos has prepared a Guide for navigating election day as a CEO. Use the Guide as a primer and take it with you on election day so you know how best to use your energy.
This resource is designed for quick access to important events to document during the different phases of election day. The smaller pamphlet is a convenient pocket checklist.
Many poll workers are misinformed about their role and your rights. Carry this reference to the law that you can use to educate poll workers about why you are doing what you are doing. See the authority the ROV is citing HERE.
POLL WORKERS' ELECTION MANUAL
Don't allow poll workers and elections officials to give you the wrong information. Read the poll workers' election manual so you know what they are supposed to know. The manual is available from the Registrar of Voters.
Poll workers are required to complete several forms during election day. Download these forms for your use. They will help you recognize what you are looking for, and allow you to copy the information quickly. Photograph the documents if you can.
The means by which a CEO achieves the goal of ensuring transparent and legitimate elections is to document what they see. You are creating evidence, not anecdotes. the best way to do that is with a camera. You may meet resistance from officials who don't want you to document problems. You also need to recognize that voters have a privacy interest with respect to their vote. The privacy interest of voters is consistent with your right to document the election. See the Psephos Statement on Documenting Elections.
