GuidanceonPollingPlaceConductandPrevention

ofVoterIntimidationandDiscrimination
November2,2016
November2,2016
ARIZONASECRETARYOFSTATEGUIDANCEONPOLLINGPLACECONDUCTANDPREVENTIONOFVOTER
INTIMIDATIONANDDISCRIMINATION
TheSecretaryofStatesofficeiscommittedtoensuringthattheNovember8,2016GeneralElectionisrunasfairlyand
smoothlyaspossible.ThefollowingmemorandumsetsforththeSecretaryofStatesofficesguidanceregardingthelawsand
rulesineffectatthepollingplaceinordertobestensurethatvoters,pollworkers,observers,politicalparties,andinterested
citizensunderstandtheirrespectiveroles,responsibilitiesandrights.
PersonsPermittedinthePollingPlace
Arizonalawprescribesa75footlimitaroundeachpollingplaceinordertocreateasafezoneforpersonstovote.Onlythe
followingtypesofpersonsareallowedwithinthissafezone:
Voters(whichmaybeaccompaniedbyminorchildrenorsomeonetoassistthevoter)
Electionofficialsengagedintheperformanceofofficialduties
Authorizedpoliticalpartyobserversand
UnitedStatesDepartmentofJusticeobservers.
Thenumberofauthorizedpartyobserversperpollingplaceisestablishedonacountybycountybasis.However,allparty
observersarerequiredtoobtaincredentialsfromtheircountypoliticalpartychairpersonandpresentthosecredentialsatthe
assignedpollingplace.
Credentialedpartyobserversaretheretodojustthat:observe.Observersshouldnotobstructpollworkers,interactwith
voters,takevideosorphotos,actunprofessionally,orotherwisefailtoobeythepollingplaceinspectororrulesestablishedby
thecounty.Partyobserversthatviolatetheseguidelinesmayhavetheircredentialsrevokedbythecountyandbeaskedto
leave.
Nonpartyobservers,interestgroups,candidatesandmembersofthemediaarenotallowedwithinthe75footlimit.Evenif
youintendtoobserveoutsidethe75footlimit,observersareencouragedtoattendtrainingandremainunderthesupervisionof
oneoftherecognizedpoliticalparties.
Electioneeringwithinthe75footLimit
Itisunlawfultoconductcampaignrelatedactivityinthepollingplaceorwithinthe75footlimit.Thisincludeshandingout
campaignliterature,talkingtovotersorpollworkersaboutpoliticalcandidatesorissues,andotherwiseattemptingtoinfluence
theelection.(Votersgenerallymaybringcampaignrelatedliteratureinthepollingplacesolelyforthepurposeofassisting
themselvesvotetheirownballot.)Candidatesshouldparticularlyrefrainfromenteringthe75footlimitexceptforthepurpose
ofvoting.
Electionofficialsandpoliticalpartyobserversareheldtothesamenonelectioneeringstandard,andareexpresslyprohibited
fromwearing,carryingordisplayinganymaterialsthatexpresssupportoroppositiontoanycandidate,politicalparty,ballot
measureoranyotherpoliticalissue.However,votersarepermittedtowearclothingorapparelthatbearsapoliticalmessage
withoutbeingaskedtoleave,removeorcoveranypoliticalmessage.Electioneeringbecomesunlawfulifavoterintentionally
andknowinglyspeakstoanothervoterwiththeintenttohavethatpersonvoteorrefrainfromvotinginaparticularmanner.
LawEnforcementandUniformedPersonnel
Generally,lawenforcementofficers(whetheruniformedorplainclothes)shouldnotbestationedinpollingplacesorwithinthe
75footlimit.Exceptionsmayapplyiftheofficerisvoting,ifthepollingplaceislocatedwithinapublicsafetybuilding,orifan
officeriscalledupontorespondtoanemergency.
Excessiveuseofuniformedlawenforcementpersonnelmayhavetheeffectofintimidatingvoters.Countiesareencouraged
tobalancethispotentiallyintimidatingeffectwiththeneedtopreservethepeace.

Asnotedbelow,theelectionmarshalisthepersonchargedbylawwithkeepingorderinandaroundthepollingplace.
Situationsthatcannotbesolvedbythemarshalshouldberesolvedwiththeassistanceofelectionofficials.Incaseswhere
thereisviolenceorthreatsofviolence,includinganyinstancewhereapersoncarriesaweaponwithinthe75footlimit,the
marshalorelectionofficialsshouldcontactlawenforcementforthelimitedpurposeofresolvingthatsituation.
Asforcivilians,wearinganyclothing,uniformsorappareltopseudoidentifyoneselfasanelectionofficial,lawenforcement
officer,orsimilarorganizationthatattemptstopolicepollingplacesortheirsurroundingscouldhaveanintimidatingeffectas
well.
CarryingFirearmsandWeapons
Arizonalawprohibitsprivatecitizens,eventhosewhoareproperlylicensed,fromenteringapollingplacewithaweapon.The
SecretaryofStatesofficeinterpretsthisprohibitiontoincludethe75footlimit.
Openlycarryingafirearmoutsidethe75footlimitofapollingplacecanalsopresentproblems.Arizonanshavealegalrightto
carry,butthepresenceofafirearminthecontextofvotingcouldpotentiallyintimidatevoters.Forexample,carryingaweapon
despitebeingoutsideapollingplaceisonething,butcarryingaweaponbecausethereisapollingplacemaycrosstheline.
Additionally,anyaggressiveorostentatiousdisplayofaweaponwillalmostcertainlyconstituteanactofintimidation.
TheSecretaryofStatesofficeseekstoensurepollingplacesarenotonlysafe,butfreeofintimidationaswell,sostrongly
considerleavingyourweaponathomeorinyourvehicleifyouintendtoobservevoters.
TakingPhotographsandVideos
Whiletakingpicturesofyourvotedearlyballot(ballotselfies)arepermissible,photographsandvideosinthepollingplaceor
withinthe75footlimitremainprohibitedandpunishableasamisdemeanoroffense.
Muchlikeopendisplayoffirearms,takingphotosorvideosoutsidethe75footlimitcouldalsohaveapotentiallyintimidating
effectonvotersenteringorexitingthepollingplace.Inparticular,filmingvotersbasedonrace,ethnicity,religionorpolitical
affiliation(ifknown)isperseinappropriate.
Ifyoufinditnecessarytofilminordertodocumentthecommissionofcrimeorotherelectionrelatedviolation,consider
informingthepollingplacemarshalorcontactinglawenforcementfirst.
ProhibitionAgainstDiscriminatory,HarassingorIntimidatingConduct
Discriminationagainstvotersbasedonrace,ethnicity,nationalorigin,language,religion,ordisabilityispunishableunderlaw.
Evenconducttracedonlyinparttodiscriminatorymotivesmaybeprohibited.
Evenintheabsenceofdiscrimination,anyattempttointimidate,coerce,orthreatenapersontovoteornotvoteisstrictly
prohibitedandmaybecriminallypunishable.Conspiringwithotherswhodosoislikewisepunishable.
Thefollowingconstitutesanonexhaustivelistofpotentiallyintimidatingconduct,whetheritoccursinsideoroutsidethepolling
place:
Aggressivebehavior,suchasraisingonesvoiceortauntingavoterorpollworker
Usingthreatening,insultingoroffensivelanguagetoavoterorpollworker
Blockingtheentrancetoapollingplace
Disruptingvotinglines
Intentionallydisseminatingfalseormisleadinginformationatapollingplace,suchasflyersorcommunicationsthat
misstatethedateoftheelection,timesforpollingplaces,locationsforpollingplaces,orsimilareffortsintendedto
disenfranchisevoters
Impersonatingalawenforcementofficer,orotherwisewearingclothing,uniformsorofficiallookingapparel,intendedto
deter,intimidate,orharrassvoters
Aggressiveorostentatiousdisplayofweapons
Directlyconfrontingorquestioningvotersinaharassingorintimidatingmanner
Askingvotersfordocumentationorotherquestionsthatonlypollworkersshouldperform
Raisingrepeatedfrivolousvoterchallengestopollworkerswithoutanygoodfaithbasis,orraisingvoterchallengessolely
basedonrace,ethnicity,nationalorigin,language,religionordisability
Photographingorfilmingvotersinaharassingorintimidatingmanneror
Postingsignsorcommunicatingmessagesaboutpenaltiesforvoterfraudinaharassingorintimidatingmanner.
Insum,anyactivitythathastheintentoreffectofthreatening,harassingorintimidatingvoterswhetherinsidethepolling
placeoroutsideisunlawfulandshouldbestrictlyenforcedbycountyelectionofficialsinconjunctionwithlocallaw
enforcement.

EnforcingPollingPlaceRulesandDecorum
Inspectorsremaininchargeofeachpollingplace,andareexpectedtoutilizethemarshaltopreserveorderandremove
potentiallydisruptivepersons.Higherleveldecisionsgenerallyshouldberaisedthroughcountychannels,whetherthrougha
trainedtroubleshooter,thecountyelectionheadquarters,orboth.Anydecisiontocontactlawenforcementisadecisionfor
localelectionofficialstobeexercisedintheirsoundjudgment.
Ifyouwitnessaproblematapollingplace,youshouldnotspeaktooraccostavoterinanattempttoenforcethelaw
yourself.Tensesituationsshouldbedeescalated,notescalated.Pleaseinformapollworkertoresolvetheissue,andif
necessaryunderthecircumstances,contactlawenforcementwithouttakingmattersintoyourownhands.
ReportingDiscrimination,HarassmentorIntimidation
Beyondaddressingpollworkers,votersthatexperienceanydiscrimination,intimidationoranyotherformofharassmentare
encouragedtocontactlocalelectionofficials,theapplicablecountyattorneysoffice,theU.S.Attorneysoffice,orthe
SecretaryofStatesoffice.Ifpublicsafetyisatrisk,call911torequestlawenforcementanddonottakemattersintoyour
ownhands.
TheSecretaryofStatesofficemaybereachedat(602)5428683oratelections@azsos.gov
(mailto:elections@azsos.gov).Staffwillbereadytorespondfrom5:30a.m.onElectionDayuntil9p.m.Alistingof
countyelectionofficials,includingcontactinformation,maybefoundatwww.arizona.vote/(http://www.arizona.vote/).
VariouscountyattorneyofficeswillbeopenduringbusinesshoursonElectionDay,andtheU.S.AttorneysofficeinPhoenix
willacceptelectionrelatedcomplaintsaswell.AssistantU.S.AttorneyToddAllisonmaybecontactedat(602)5952866.For
furtherinformationonfederalgovernmentresourcesavailableonElectionDay,pleasevisitwww.justice.gov/usaoaz/pr/us
attorneyannounceseffortsprotectvoters...(http://www.justice.gov/usaoaz/pr/usattorneyannouncesefforts
protectvotersandpreventfraudnovember2016elections).
TheSecretaryofStatesofficetakesanydiscrimination,harassmentorintimidationveryseriously,andwillensurethatallsuch
allegationsarefullyinvestigated.AllArizonansareentitledtofreelyexercisetheirrighttovote.
MicheleReagan
ArizonaSecretaryofState