Common Cause-Votewatch Election Monitoring
In 2000, 4 million to 6 million votes cast in the presidential election were "lost," according to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology. That was up to one in 18 votes. The study concluded that confusing ballots and faulty equipment were blamed for the loss of 1.5 to 2 million votes, while registration mix-ups caused 1.5 million to 3 million of the votes to go uncounted. Poor polling place operations lost up to 1 million votes, the study said.
It is possible that this election will be even closer than the one 2000. That is why Common Cause has teamed up with Votewatch to create a comprehensive citizen-driven system of real-time election monitoring and reporting. Teams of trained volunteers, monitors, and staff will observe polling place activities and gather data that will be used to evaluate voting procedures nationwide, learn where and how election day issues impact the vote, and improve future elections. Our monitors will also be able to relay immediate problems to address problems at the polls when and where it is possible.
Thousands of volunteers are needed to fill positions across the nation to monitor the election. Register today!
Here is how you can protect democracy by monitoring the Elections On November 2nd:
Votewatcher: Votewatchers will be trained for one of two roles: 1) Polling voters leaving their precinct on election day and sending in the data collected by fax or handheld computer; or 2) Sitting inside a precinct for about 4 hours, recording observations and immediately reporting them to by telephone or the Internet. Register Now! Votewatchers are needed in targeted states and must be available for 5 hours on Election Day.
Mystery Voter: Mystery Voters will go to their precinct at a time chosen by Votewatch, observe the voter in front of you and other voting processes, and record your observations on a Votewatch checklist. You'll then immediately report your observations to us using your telephone. Register Now! Mystery Voters are needed nationwide and must be available for 30 minutes on Election Day.
Closing Voter: Closing Voters will vote at their usual polling location shortly before closing time and will then wait outside while the poll workers close the polling place and eventually post the final vote tally. They will then call in the vote totals to us and will later submit the digital photograph via the web site for further analysis and comparison with unofficial totals released by the county later that evening. Register Now! Closing Voters are needed nationwide and must be available for 60-90 minutes on Election Day.