Information including schedule, regulations, and what is observable can be found at ocvote.gov/observe.
Observers are not permitted to interfere with or disrupt voting in any way. Observers cannot speak with voters while they are voting, in line to vote, or within 100 feet of a voting location.
Yes, all observers are allowed inside Vote Centers and our office.
2 CCR section 20873(e) says:
An election observer shall have the right to observe any proceedings at a polling place before it opens to the public, during polling hours, and after the polls close.
This regulation also permits observers to watch Orange County Registrar of Voters staff collect ballots from drop off locations and process ballots in our office.
2 CCR section 20873(c) provides that observers shall be provided sufficiently close access.
2 CCR section 20874(a) authorizes the Registrar of Voters to determine the distance that is “sufficiently close.”
Observers are allowed to watch voting at Vote Centers and ballot drop off locations. But, observers are not permitted to interfere with or disrupt voting in any way.
Observers cannot speak with voters or encourage them to vote for or against a candidate or measure verbally or in printing on their clothing or printed materials while the voters are voting, in line to vote, or within 100 feet of a voting location.
The media is permitted to visit and film at Vote Center locations, provided they do not interfere or disrupt the voting process.
Additionally, the media is not permitted to:
- Take close-up pictures or video footage of actual ballots or of voters marking their ballots.
- Film voters dropping off a Vote-By-Mail ballot into a Ballot Drop Box, to a drive-thru drop off team, to Vote Center staff, or Registrar of Voters’ staff in the Registrar of Voters’ office if the voter communicates to the media that he or she feels intimidated by being filmed.
- Conduct stand ups or interviews within a voting area – inside a Vote Center, at a Vote Center curbside voting area, at a Vote Center drive-thru drop off area, or at a Ballot Drop Box.
All interviews must be conducted at least 25 feet from the entrance to the Vote Center or outdoor voting location, pursuant to Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations Section 20878(a)(8).
The voter should report this immediately to staff at the voting location, or by calling the Registrar of Voters office at 714-567-7600.