Series 2884: Precinct Observation Reports. 2008-2012.
Secretary of State. Elections Division (RG 28).

Series 2884: Precinct Observation Reports. 2008-2012.
Secretary of State. Elections Division (RG 28).

      These reports consist of information gathered by volunteer poll observers at polling places during elections. They consist of checklists generated and distributed by the Secretary of State’s office. The checklist are used to compile routine data such as poll opening times, equipment condition, competency of poll workers, ADA compliance, and space for additional information. There are also narrative summaries that are created separately from the official checklists. The summaries are written accounts of activities that occur in the polling places. Activities include behavior of poll workers and election commissioners, rejection of ballots, challenges to illegitimate voters, issuance of affidavit ballots, as well as general observations. The purpose of the reports is to document any irregularities that may invalidate ballots and voting; also, to report any malfunctions that occur with equipment or odd behavior of staff. While some summaries are attached with the checklists, this is not always the case; some reports are only the checklist and others only the written summaries. Some volunteers were assigned polling places in two counties, for example, a poll observer might be assigned to Eggville in Lee County and Sherman in Pontotoc County; in such cases, the reports are filed by the first county mentioned in the report. This series is arranged chronologically by election dates.