Florida Statutes
Chapter 101 - Voting Methods and Procedure
101.131 - Watchers at Polls.


(1) Each political party and each candidate may have one watcher in each polling room or early voting area at any one time during the election. A political committee formed for the specific purpose of expressly advocating the passage or defeat of an issue on the ballot may have one watcher for each polling room or early voting area at any one time during the election. No watcher shall be permitted to come closer to the officials’ table or the voting booths than is reasonably necessary to properly perform his or her functions, but each shall be allowed within the polling room or early voting area to watch and observe the conduct of electors and officials. The poll watchers shall furnish their own materials and necessities and shall not obstruct the orderly conduct of any election. The poll watchers shall pose any questions regarding polling place procedures directly to the clerk for resolution. They may not interact with voters. Each poll watcher shall be a qualified and registered elector of the county in which he or she serves.
(2) Each party, each political committee, and each candidate requesting to have poll watchers shall designate, in writing to the supervisors of elections, on a form prescribed by the division, before noon of the second Tuesday preceding the election poll watchers for each polling room on election day. Designations of poll watchers for early voting areas shall be submitted in writing to the supervisor of elections, on a form prescribed by the division, before noon at least 14 days before early voting begins. The poll watchers for polling rooms shall be approved by the supervisor of elections on or before the Tuesday before the election. Poll watchers for early voting areas shall be approved by the supervisor of elections no later than 7 days before early voting begins. The supervisor shall furnish to each election board a list of the poll watchers designated and approved for such polling rooms or early voting areas. Designation of poll watchers shall be made by the chair of the county executive committee of a political party, the chair of a political committee, or the candidate requesting to have poll watchers.
(3) No candidate or sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer, or other law enforcement officer may be designated as a poll watcher.
(4) All poll watchers shall be allowed to enter and watch polls in all polling rooms and early voting areas within the county in which they have been designated if the number of poll watchers at any particular polling place does not exceed the number provided in this section.
(5) The supervisor of elections shall provide to each designated poll watcher an identification badge which identifies the poll watcher by name. Each poll watcher must wear his or her identification badge while performing his or her duties.
History.—s. 3-D, ch. 22018, 1943; s. 5, ch. 26870, 1951; s. 18, ch. 29934, 1955; s. 6, ch. 65-380; s. 13, ch. 77-175; s. 3, ch. 87-184; s. 14, ch. 87-363; s. 18, ch. 89-338; s. 555, ch. 95-147; s. 61, ch. 2001-40; s. 28, ch. 2005-277; s. 27, ch. 2011-40; s. 17, ch. 2021-11.
Note.—Former s. 100.45.

Structure Florida Statutes

Florida Statutes

Title IX - Electors and Elections

Chapter 101 - Voting Methods and Procedure

101.001 - Precincts and Polling Places; Boundaries.

101.002 - Use of System by Municipalities.

101.015 - Standards for Voting Systems.

101.017 - Bureau of Voting Systems Certification.

101.019 - Ranked-Choice Voting Prohibited.

101.021 - Elector to Vote the Primary Ballot of the Political Party in Which He or She Is Registered.

101.031 - Instructions for Electors.

101.041 - Secret Voting.

101.043 - Identification Required at Polls.

101.045 - Electors Must Be Registered in Precinct; Provisions for Change of Residence or Name.

101.048 - Provisional Ballots.

101.049 - Provisional Ballots; Special Circumstances.

101.051 - Electors Seeking Assistance in Casting Ballots; Oath to Be Executed; Forms to Be Furnished.

101.111 - Voter Challenges.

101.131 - Watchers at Polls.

101.151 - Specifications for Ballots.

101.161 - Referenda; Ballots.

101.171 - Copy of Constitutional Amendment to Be Available at Voting Locations.

101.20 - Publication of Ballot Form; Sample Ballots.

101.21 - Official Ballots; Number; Printing; Payment.

101.23 - Election Inspector to Keep List of Those Voting.

101.24 - Ballot Boxes and Ballots.

101.2512 - Candidates’ Names on General Election Ballots.

101.2515 - Translation of Ballot Language.

101.252 - Candidates Entitled to Have Names Printed on Certain Ballots; Exception.

101.254 - When Nominated Names to Appear in Groups or Districts.

101.292 - Definitions; Ss. 101.292-101.295.

101.293 - Competitive Sealed Bids and Proposals Required.

101.294 - Purchase and Sale of Voting Equipment.

101.295 - Penalties for Violation.

101.34 - Custody of Voting System.

101.341 - Prohibited Activities by Voting System Custodians and Deputy Custodians.

101.43 - Substitute Ballot.

101.49 - Procedure of Election Officers Where Signatures Differ.

101.51 - Electors to Occupy Booth Alone.

101.545 - Retention and Destruction of Certain Election Materials.

101.5601 - Short Title.

101.5602 - Purpose.

101.5603 - Definitions Relating to Electronic Voting Systems Act.

101.5604 - Adoption of System; Procurement of Equipment; Commercial Tabulations.

101.56042 - Punch Card Type Systems Prohibited.

101.5605 - Examination and Approval of Equipment.

101.5606 - Requirements for Approval of Systems.

101.56062 - Standards for Accessible Voting Systems.

101.56063 - Accessibility of Voting Systems and Polling Places; Intent; Eligibility for Federal Funding.

101.56064 - Application for Federal Funds Under Ch. 2002-281.

101.56065 - Voting System Defects; Disclosure; Investigations; Penalties.

101.5607 - Department of State to Maintain Voting System Information; Prepare Software.

101.56075 - Voting Methods.

101.5608 - Voting by Electronic or Electromechanical Method; Procedures.

101.5610 - Inspection of Ballot by Election Board.

101.5611 - Instructions to Electors.

101.5612 - Testing of Tabulating Equipment.

101.5613 - Examination of Equipment During Voting.

101.5614 - Canvass of Returns.

101.572 - Public Inspection of Ballots.

101.58 - Supervising and Observing Registration and Election Processes.

101.591 - Voting System Audit.

101.5911 - Rulemaking Authority for Voting System Audit Procedures.

101.595 - Analysis and Reports of Voting Problems.

101.6101 - Short Title.

101.6102 - Mail Ballot Elections; Limitations.

101.6103 - Mail Ballot Election Procedure.

101.6104 - Challenge of Votes.

101.6105 - Vote-by-Mail Voting.

101.6106 - Application of Other Election Laws.

101.6107 - Department of State to Adopt Rules.

101.62 - Request for Vote-by-Mail Ballots.

101.64 - Delivery of Vote-by-Mail Ballots; Envelopes; Form.

101.65 - Instructions to Absent Electors.

101.655 - Supervised Voting by Absent Electors in Certain Facilities.

101.657 - Early Voting.

101.661 - Voting Vote-by-Mail Ballots.

101.662 - Accessibility of Vote-by-Mail Ballots.

101.663 - Electors; Change of Residence to Another State.

101.665 - Administration of Oaths; Military Personnel, Federal Employees, and Other Absentee Registrants.

101.67 - Safekeeping of Mailed Ballots; Deadline for Receiving Vote-by-Mail Ballots.

101.68 - Canvassing of Vote-by-Mail Ballot.

101.69 - Voting in Person; Return of Vote-by-Mail Ballot.

101.6921 - Delivery of Special Vote-by-Mail Ballot to Certain First-Time Voters.

101.6923 - Special Vote-by-Mail Ballot Instructions for Certain First-Time Voters.

101.6925 - Canvassing Special Vote-by-Mail Ballots.

101.694 - Mailing of Ballots Upon Receipt of Federal Postcard Application.

101.6951 - State Write-in Vote-by-Mail Ballot.

101.6952 - Vote-by-Mail Ballots for Absent Uniformed Services and Overseas Voters.

101.697 - Electronic Transmission of Election Materials.

101.698 - Absentee Voting in Emergency Situations.

101.71 - Polling Place.

101.715 - Accessibility of Polling Places for People Having a Disability.

101.731 - Short Title.

101.732 - Definitions Relating to Elections Emergency Act.

101.733 - Election Emergency; Purpose; Elections Emergency Contingency Plan.

101.74 - Temporary Change of Polling Place in Case of Emergency.

101.75 - Municipal Elections; Change of Dates for Cause.