The Colorado State Republican Party (GOP) and the Arapahoe County Republican Party (AC-GOP) invite you to become a Poll Watcher by using our Poll Watch Volunteer Program for the upcoming Election.
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If you are interested in serving as a Republican Poll Watcher, you must:
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Be a Colorado resident who is 18 years or older,
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Be registered in Colorado to vote as a Republican,
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Obtain the necessary training and certification,
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Be formally appointed by our Arapahoe County Republican Party
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The Colorado Secretary of State has created an online short mandatory training program that all prospective poll watchers must complete.
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Your appointment is to be a Republican Poll Watcher at any of the Voter Service Poll Centers. All locations are listed on the scheduling links contained below to select and schedule your preferred location and shift.
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Note about Ballot Processing Center: If you would like to volunteer as a Poll Watcher at the Ballot Processing Center, located at 5251 S. Federal Blvd, Littleton, please contact voteGOParapahoe@proton.me. The center processes mail-in ballots from early October through election day, November 5.
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Here is the Poll Watcher appointment process from Application to Polling Place:
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1. Suzy Q. Public (as an example) selects one of the six locations linked below and completes the AC-GOP Poll Watcher Sign-Up Form from the locations listed in the links below.
You may volunteer for multiple times and locations.
When Suzy completes this Sign-up Form, it will be automatically transmitted to the AC-GOP.
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After someone selects a shift, it will show as no longer being available. To cancel or modify your commitment, all one has to do is return to the tool, make the changes and everyone else will see that the shift is now available.
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2. Suzy completes the on-line Poll Watcher training at the Secretary of State's site (see link below) and automatically receives a Certificate of Poll Watcher Training from the Secretary of State.
3. Suzy then downloads and saves a copy of the Certificate (we cannot replace it or give Suzy a copy of it, so downloading and saving is vital!)
4. As a result of her training and in a desire to be as professional as possible, Suzy downloads and reads the Rule 8, which governs Poll Watchers’ actions. She then understands the Poll Watcher legal rules and regulations. (linked below). She also reads and understands Arapahoe County Poll Watcher Rules found here: https://www.arapahoevotes.gov/watchers
5. Suzy then resubmits the AC-GOP Poll Watcher Sign-Up Form after adding the certification date found on her Poll Watcher Training Certificate.
6. AC-GOP processes Suzy’s application and checks it against voter records to confirm she is a registered Republican and then submits it to the Arapahoe County Clerk. This submission has to be no less than 48 hours before the first shift Suzy indicated she wants to work. For Election Day, Tuesday, November 5th, the submission has to be by the close of business the previous Thursday.
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7. The County Clerk reviews and verifies the information that AC-GOP submitted to appoint Suzy.
8. The County Clerk then sends to the AC-GOP; 1) Suzy’s Appointment Certificate which authorizes her to be a Republican Poll Watcher, and 2) an unsigned Oath of Office.​
9. AC-GOP then emails to Suzy these two documents - her 1) Certificate and 2) unsigned Oath of Office. She downloads and saves these. She then prints a copy of the Oath for each shift she is planning on working. She also prints one copy (or more for her convenience) of the GOP Training Certificate and the Clerk’s Appointment Certificate which she will use for every shift.​
10. Before Suzy leaves home each time she is scheduled to work, she makes sure that she takes with her a copy of all 3 documents plus a photo ID:
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Unsigned Oath of Office
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Secretary of State Training Certificate
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Arapahoe County Clerk’s Appointment Certificate
* A Photo ID
11. When Suzy reports for her shift, she asks the Election Judge, “Who is the designated Watcher Contact?” and then presents her two Certificates to the Watcher Contact. Suzy should also have a photo ID with her in case the Watcher Contact requests to it to verify Suzy’s identity.
12. The Watcher Contact then examines, verifies and returns to Suzy her Training and Watcher Certificates. Then and only in the presence of the designated Watcher Contact, does Suzy attest to the Oath by dating and signing the blank Oath she brought along with her.
* Please don’t forget the preparation that Suzy took in this last step. A Poll Watcher who doesn’t possess the three critical documents, will be asked to leave immediately.
* Simply Having these documents electronically on your phone or tablet is NOT ACCEPTABLE – YOU MUST PRESENT PRINTED, HARD COPIES.
* Also, please remember, you must take a copy of the unsigned Oath with you to each shift you plan on working in addition to the two certificates. Remember – 3 documents plus your photo ID.
Links to: Poll Watcher Locations and Sign-up Forms, Secretary of State Training and Certification Course and Rule 8 Regulations
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From Step 1: Links to the AC-GOP Poll Watcher Sign-up Forms - six locations. Click on one or more.
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Aurora CentrePoint Plaza: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084CA5AD22A4FDCE9-aurora
Aurora MLK Library: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084CA5AD22A4FDCE9-aurora1
Byers Kelver Library: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084CA5AD22A4FDCE9-byers
Centennial Lima Plaza: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084CA5AD22A4FDCE9-centennial
Centennial Smoky Hill Library: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084CA5AD22A4FDCE9-centennial1
Littleton ACC: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084CA5AD22A4FDCE9-littleton
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From Step 2: Link to the Colorado Secretary of State Poll Watcher Training and Certification Courses
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https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/watchers.html
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From Step 4: Link to Arapahoe County Poll Watcher Rules: https://www.arapahoevotes.gov/watchers
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From Step 4: Link to Rule 8 to familiarize yourself with all the Colorado State Poll Watcher Rules
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https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/rule_making/CurrentRules/8CCR1505-1/Rule8.pdf
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Interested Drop Box Watchers - We are updating this section and will be posting information here very soon. If you are interested in being a drop box watcher, please check the Be a Poll Watcher selection below and indicate your interest in the text box below.
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QUESTIONS? Please contact our Poll Watcher Coordinator, Susan Baker, with any questions you may have about the program at: voteGOParapahoe@proton.me
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THANK YOU FOR EXERCISING YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS A CITIZEN!!!