Scripps News details roles and rules for poll watchers, observers, and monitors in 2026 elections

Voters may interact with or be observed by individuals with varying legal authority to monitor polling places and challenge voter eligibility depending on state statutes and federal deployments.

• •Approximately 100,000 precincts will operate on Election Day, accommodating officials, poll workers, and various observers.
• •Observers at polling sites generally fall into five categories: partisan poll watchers, nonpartisan observers, volunteers, DOJ election monitors, and congressional observers.
• •Political parties or candidates are permitted to send poll watchers to voting sites in every state except West Virginia.
• •In 32 states, partisan poll watchers are permitted to challenge the eligibility of a voter.
• •In North Carolina, poll watchers challenging a voter's eligibility must submit an oath under threat of felony perjury.
• •In Nevada, election-day voter challenges are only valid if based on direct personal knowledge.
• •The Department of Justice is deploying approximately 1,000 election monitors across all 50 states for the 2026 elections.
• •During the 2022 midterm election, the Department of Justice deployed 388 election monitors.
• •DOJ election monitors observe and report potential violations of federal law to the department for review after Election Day.
• •Volunteers may operate outside the 'electioneering line' to provide sample ballots, issue information, or assist voters in long lines.
• •Congressional election observers are permitted to view every part of the voting process, and their observations can apply if a race is contested.
• •Observation activities extend beyond November 3 to include ballot counting and mail-in ballot processing (canvassing) in many states.