[ti:The History and Role of Poll Watchers in US Elections]
[by:www.21voa.com]
[00:00.00]更多听力请访问21VOA.COM
[00:00.04]Republican Party activists are urging supporters across the United States
[00:06.20]to closely watch early voting sites and ballot drop boxes
[00:11.20]in the weeks before elections next month.
[00:14.76]The party's effort expands on the traditional duties of election observers.
[00:22.20]The custom of "poll watching" may take on new meaning this year
[00:26.88]with an increase in mail-in voting because of the COVID-19 health crisis.
[00:33.60]At the same time, President Donald Trump claims that mail voting can lead to cheating.
[00:40.04]Trump is seeking re-election as the Republican candidate.
[00:45.60]Poll watchers have been part of U.S. elections dating back to the 18th century.
[00:51.60]Their activities are controlled by state laws and local rules.
[00:57.08]Members of both major political parties keep an eye on the voting
[01:01.56]- and each other - to make sure things go smoothly.
[01:05.96]State laws call observers inside polling stations different things.
[01:11.40]States also may ask them to do different things.
[01:15.48]In some areas, poll "watchers" are different from "challengers,"
[01:21.44]who can point out people they suspect are not legal voters.
[01:26.24]In other states, poll watchers also do the challenging.
[01:31.72]Other rules set limits on how close party supporters can stand outside polling stations.
[01:39.60]Rules on who can "watch" voting, and the powers given to these observers,
[01:45.68]differ from state to state.
[01:48.20]In Pennsylvania, for example, poll watchers can observe the election
[01:54.48]- checking turnout and voting machines
[01:57.40]-- and also challenge voters by taking their concerns to election officials.
[02:03.20]However, the challengers generally are barred from talking directly with voters,
[02:08.96]or from making baseless claims that slow down voting.
[02:14.56]Requirements for poll watchers also differ.
[02:17.84]They usually are supposed to be registered voters.
[02:22.56]In some states, they must be approved before the vote by election officials.
[02:28.20]The state of North Carolina requires that poll workers be of "good moral character."
[02:35.52]Observers also are permitted by law in states that hold elections mostly by mail.
[02:42.32]In Oregon, for example, the law says parties and candidates
[02:47.28]can sponsor observers to watch election workers open ballots and count them.
[02:53.32]But these observers must behave in a way that "will not interfere with an orderly procedure."
[03:01.68]Supporters of parties and candidates
[03:05.52]may stand outside polling stations with signs and other political advertising,
[03:09.80]an activity known as "electioneering."
[03:13.44]But laws governing these activities also differ from one state to the next.
[03:19.96]Generally, these supporters must keep a distance from the entrance.
[03:26.64]In a year in which protesters and armed militias clashed,
[03:31.24]some voting rights activists fear a return of armed groups showing up
[03:36.68]outside polling stations.
[03:40.00]In some states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina,
[03:46.40]Wisconsin and Virginia, people can carry guns openly in public.
[03:52.72]There are no laws in those states directly barring people
[03:56.12]from carrying weapons into polling stations.
[04:00.00]Yet state and federal laws make it illegal for anyone to try to intimidate voters.
[04:07.84]Voting rights organizations say they will have thousands of lawyers
[04:12.92]ready to intervene with local officials or seek court orders to stop such activity.
[04:19.60]I'm Ashley Thompson. 更多听力请访问21VOA.COM