I will be an election judge in Texas (Galveston County) on Nov 6. Here are the relevant passages of the Texas Election Code (Chapter 33):
WATCHER DEFINED. In this code, “watcher” means a person appointed under this subchapter to observe the conduct of an election on behalf of a candidate, a political party, or the proponents or opponents of a measure.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.
Sec. 33.002. APPOINTMENT BY CANDIDATE. (a) Watchers may be appointed by each candidate whose name appears on the ballot or the list of declared write-in candidates in an election for:(1) a public office other than the office of vice-president of the United States; or(2) an office of a political party.(b) In an election for an office of the state government that is filled by voters of more than one county, watchers may also be appointed by the candidate’s campaign treasurer.(c) In an election for an office of the federal government that is filled by voters of more than one county, watchers may also be appointed by the chair or treasurer of the candidate’s principal campaign committee or by a designated agent of the chair or treasurer.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 32, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1349, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 33.003. APPOINTMENT BY POLITICAL PARTY. (a) The county chair of each political party that has one or more nominees on the ballot may appoint watchers.(b) If the county chair does not make an authorized appointment, any three members of the county executive committee may make the appointment.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 864, Sec. 33, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 33.004. APPOINTMENT FOR WRITE-IN CANDIDATE. (a) A group of registered voters may appoint watchers on behalf of a write-in candidate in an election in which a declaration of write-in candidacy is not required to be filed.(b) To be eligible to participate in the appointment under this section of a watcher for a precinct polling place, a person must be a registered voter of the precinct. To be eligible to participate in the appointment under this section of a watcher for an early voting polling place, the meeting place of an early voting ballot board, or a central counting station, a person must be a registered voter of the territory served by that facility.(c) The minimum number of voters required to make an appointment under this section is the lesser of:(1) 15; or(2) five percent of the registered voters of the appropriate territory as determined from the list of registered voters to be used for the election.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 203, Sec. 2.38; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1349, Sec. 16, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 33.005. APPOINTMENT FOR ELECTION ON MEASURE. (a) In an election on a measure, watchers may be appointed by the campaign treasurer or an assistant campaign treasurer of a specific-purpose political committee that supports or opposes the measure.
I don’t see UN as a group that can appoint poll watchers. And I will (and have in the past) call the police to maintain order in my polling place, if necesary.
I doubt they will bother our tiny precinct but as a judge, I would do as you say. What are they gonna do? I mean we could launch a chemical weapon and they won’t notice a thing.