(a) The precinct party committee, where an organized precinct committee exists, or the party district committee where no organized precinct committee exists, or the state party chairperson where neither a precinct nor a party district committee exists, may appoint one or more persons as watchers in each precinct and counting center for any election. Each candidate may appoint one or more watchers for each precinct or counting center in the candidate’s respective district or the state for any election. Any organization or organized group that sponsors or opposes an initiative, referendum, or recall may have one or more persons as watchers at the polls and counting centers after first obtaining authorization from the director. A state party chairperson, a precinct party committee, a party district committee, or a candidate may not have more than one watcher on duty at a time in any precinct or counting center. A watcher must be a United States citizen. The watcher may be present at a position inside the place of voting or counting that affords a full view of all action of the election officials taken from the time the polls are opened until the ballots are finally counted and the results certified by the election board or the data processing review board. The election board or the data processing review board may require each watcher to present written proof showing appointment by the precinct party committee, the party district committee, the organization or organized group, or the candidate the watcher represents.

Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 15.10.170

  • action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
  • director: means the director of elections who is the chief elections officer of the state appointed in accordance with Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 15.80.010
  • election board: means the board appointed in accordance with Alaska Stat. See Alaska Statutes 15.80.010
  • party district committee: means the political party committee that performs the executive function for a region representing an area larger than a precinct and smaller than the state. See Alaska Statutes 15.80.010
  • precinct: means the territory within which resident voters may cast votes at one polling place. See Alaska Statutes 15.80.010
  • special election: means an election held at a time other than when the general or primary election is held and an election called to be held with, and at the time of, the general or primary election. See Alaska Statutes 15.80.010
  • state: means the State of Alaska unless applied to the different parts of the United States and in the latter case it includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
  • state party chairperson: means the political party official elected as the highest ranking statewide party executive. See Alaska Statutes 15.80.010
(b) In addition to the watchers appointed under (a) of this section, in a primary election or special primary election or special election under Alaska Stat. § 15.40.140, each candidate may appoint one watcher in each precinct and counting center.