Election observers were a focal point of much of the litigation and misinformation surrounding the 2020 election. Election observers, sometimes called poll watchers, are people who watch over the U.S. voting process to report inconsistencies, flag legal or procedural violations, and challenge the eligibility or identity of voters. Poll watchers have important roles and responsibilities in election operations. Many post-election lawsuits alleged that election observers affiliated with the Republican Party were improperly denied access to the areas where votes were being counted. These claims were typically accompanied by implications of improper activities behind closed doors. This memorandum details the specific allegations laid out in battleground state litigation concerning the role of election observers in the 2020 election and the alleged issues regarding access throughout the vote tabulation process.
Author: Jacob McCall