I have been an election official in various capacities since Reagan’s first win.
Being a Poll Watcher is generally useless. Unless you are an official, certified poll worker you don’t get close to ‘the machine.’
Depending on the state, if you want to have eyes on records, and how they are handled, work the shifts in the second half of the day, and be sure to be working when the polls close and all records are tabulated.
You CAN monitor what happened in you poll location.
Here in GA, the shenanigans happened when (a) ballots were put in drop boxes and (b) three counties ‘did things’ at the county official level, primarily will mail in, absentee and drop off ballots. The polling locations for in-person here in GA make it hard to cheat actually.
Yes, I believe the problems are in Registration and Drop Boxes.
Excellent Observations.
From an Maine election clerk.