Fircrest council candidate Chris Case wrote it to complain that his opponent was hanging out at the polls, watching voters sign in and get their ballots.

Case is certain that it is illegal – or should be – for a candidate to do that.

But is it? Probably not. Matthew Jolibois registered with the county auditor as a certified poll watcher. That is a role open to anyone, but usually used by parties or campaigns, to keep an eye on things and to report irregularities. It was used heavily around the country last year by lawyers for the two presidential candidates looking for violations of law.

As long as Jolibois doesn't electioneer, which could include actions as seemingly minor as wearing a button, he doesn't run afoul of laws banning campaigning in or around polls. As long as he just watches, he's legal. At least that was the quick review offered by Secretary of State spokesman Dave Ammons.

For what it is worth, only 961 of Fircrest's 4,156 registered voters are poll voters. The rest vote by mail - far from the gaze of Matthew Jolibois.

Said Case: "No matter how this thing turns out, we've got to reform this so that it doesn't happen so easily."

Categories: Campaign News, General Politics, Voting & Elections
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