The Preferred Method of Pollwatching Training. The Fairfax County Republican Committee (FCRC) and its volunteers must actively participate in efforts to ensure the integrity of the election process. Republicans who serve as county Election Officers are the first line of defense against electoral fraud. They provide the direct operational support on Election Day at the polls, and their willingness to serve is greatly appreciated. Republicans who serve as Party Pollwatchers are the second line of defense. Pollwatchers, officially recognized by Virginia law, are charged with observing the process from inside the polling place and with challenging situations where Virginia law is not being followed.
FCRC has supported the Pollwatching effort since 2012 by conducting training classes and offering a companion Virginia Pollwatchers Guide. These vehicles are updated annually to reflect election law changes. The purpose of these efforts has been:
· To provide Republican volunteers with an understanding of the election process itself and how the Pollwatching role is critical to our efforts to ensure elections are conducted according to the intent and wording of the law.
· To provide Republican volunteers with a layman’s understanding of the underlying election laws in the Code of Virginia that must be followed at the polls on Election Day.
· To train our volunteers on the procedures allowing them to respond effectively when they observe the relevant laws are not being followed at a polling place.
Past experience has shown that Pollwatcher training is most effective close to Election Day so that the volunteers are well-prepared and comfortable with the underlying process and the laws. The following Pollwatching training class has been scheduled this week at the FCRC office, 4246 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030:
Keith Damon will be the facilitator for the class.
Additionally, if any group or Magisterial District would like a special class for their volunteers, please contact Keith Damon at kgdamon@pheasridge.com.
If you would like to preview the charts used during the training, please send an email request to Keith. Keith will attempt to meet all of your needs.
A Second Method of Pollwatching Training. The Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) is offering a one-hour online training webinar that will involve viewing slides on your computer and a conference call through either your computer or your phone. The training is a shortened version of FCRC’s training.
Poll Watchers can RSVP for any of the following RPV trainings through EventBrite at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rpv-poll-watcher-training-tickets-51352798603
Tuesday, October 30 – 8:00 PM
Saturday, November 3 – 4:00 PM
Sunday, November 4 – 3:00 PM
.
RPV has developed a smart phone app, available for both iPhone and Android, with all the key resources for poll watchers, as well as contact information for our Election Day Operations Center.
Search for: RNLA Virginia POLL WATCHER at the Google Play or Apple App stores, or
iPhone Link – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rnla-virginia-poll-watcher/id1291678423?ls=1&mt=8
Android Link – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.varepublicanpollwatcher
Training participants should download the app prior to the training. The app offers a condensed version of FCRC’s Pollwatching Guide issued at FCRC’s in-person pollwatching training.
On the Subject of Voter Integrity
ALERT – If you see or hear of voter registration forms being sent to non-citizens, where the Citizenship box is already marked “YES,” please let Reagan George know at rgeorge137@cox.net or Keith Damon kgdamon@pheasridge.com.
ALERT – We have received reports of mailings that were sent out to Fairfax voters from the Fairfax County Electoral Board where mail was addressed to prior owners or renters of the property you currently occupy. Please save those extra envelopes and turn them in to FCRC.