(a) A watcher appointed under this chapter is entitled to do the following:
- (1) Enter the polls at least thirty (30) minutes before the opening of the polls and remain there throughout election day until all tabulations have been completed.
- (2) Inspect the paper ballot boxes, ballot card voting system, or electronic voting system before votes have been cast.
- (3) Inspect the work being done by any precinct election officer (except when a precinct election officer enters a confidential login or password to obtain access to an electronic poll book or to operate a voting system).
- (4) Enter, leave, and reenter the polls at any time on election day.
- (5) Witness the calling and recording of the votes and any other proceedings of the precinct election officers in the performance of official duties.
(6) Receive a summary of the vote prepared under IC 3-12-2-15 , IC 3-12-3-2 , IC 3-12-3-11 , or IC 3-12-3.5-3 , signed by the precinct election board, providing:
- (A) the names of all candidates of the political party whose primary election is being observed by the watcher and the number of votes cast for each candidate;
- (B) the names of all candidates at a general, municipal, or special election and the number of votes cast for each candidate; or
- (C) the vote cast for or against a public question.
- (7) Accompany the inspector and judge in delivering the tabulation and election returns to the county election board by the most direct route.
- (8) Be present when the inspector takes a receipt for the tabulation and election returns delivered to the county election board.
(b) Subject to the restrictions under section 1 of this chapter, a watcher appointed under this chapter may enter, leave, and reenter multiple polling places at any time on election day.
[Pre-1986 Recodification Citations: 3-1-6-2(c)(1) part, (c)(2) part.]
As added by P.L.5-1986, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.3-1987, SEC.38; P.L.3-1993, SEC.26; P.L.3-1997, SEC.48; P.L.221-2005, SEC.11; P.L.169-2015, SEC.11; P.L.209-2021, SEC.7; P.L.241-2025, SEC.7.