1108 WATCHERS

1108.1 Two (2) persons representing the proposer(s) and two (2) persons representing the elected official sought to be recalled may be present during the counting and validation procedures and shall be deemed watchers.1108.2 To secure the presence of watchers, the proposer or elected official shall file a petition for credentials for watchers, within three (3) days from the date the recall petition is submitted for filing.1108.3 Each petition for credentials shall be on a form furnished by the Board and shall contain the following:- (a) The name, address, telephone number, and signature of the proposer(s) or elected official;

- (b) The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the persons authorized to represent the proposer(s) or elected official and receive the badges from the Board; and

- (c) A certificate that each proposed watcher shall conform to the regulations of the Board concerning watchers and the conduct of the counting and validation process.1108.4 The Board shall issue a badge for each authorized watcher, with space for the watcher's name, the serial number of the measure, and the name of the proposer(s) or the elected official represented by the watcher.1108.5 Badges shall be worn by the authorized watcher at all times when observing the counting and validation process.1108.6 An authorized alternate watcher may, in the discretion of the proposer(s) or the political committee(s), be substituted for a watcher at any time during the counting and validation process; provided, that notice is first given to the designated representative of the Board who is present.1108.7 No watcher shall at any time during the counting and validation process do the following:- (a) Touch any official record of the Board; or

- (b) Interfere with the progress of the counting and validation process or obstruct in any way the process.

1108.8 If a watcher has any questions or claims any discrepancy, inaccuracy, or error in the conduct of the procedures, he or she shall direct his or her question or complaint to the Board designee in charge.

1108.9 Any watcher who, in the judgment of the Board or its designated representative, has failed to comply with any of the rules in this section may be requested to leave the area where the verification process is being conducted, and the watcher's credentials shall be deemed canceled. An authorized alternate watcher may be substituted.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 42 DCR 4419, 4431-32 (August 18, 1995); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 47 DCR 5927 (July 28, 2000); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 48 DCR 11722 (December 28, 2001); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 49 DCR 2737 (March 22, 2002); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 58 DCR 941, 971 (February 10, 2012); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 5582 (April 12, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 625 (January 24, 2014).