Fla. Stat. 101.131
Watchers at polls


(1)

Each political party and each candidate may have one watcher in each polling room or early voting area at any one time during the election. A political committee formed for the specific purpose of expressly advocating the passage or defeat of an issue on the ballot may have one watcher for each polling room or early voting area at any one time during the election. No watcher shall be permitted to come closer to the officials’ table or the voting booths than is reasonably necessary to properly perform his or her functions, but each shall be allowed within the polling room or early voting area to watch and observe the conduct of electors and officials. The poll watchers shall furnish their own materials and necessities and shall not obstruct the orderly conduct of any election. The poll watchers shall pose any questions regarding polling place procedures directly to the clerk for resolution. They may not interact with voters. Each poll watcher shall be a qualified and registered elector of the county in which he or she serves.

(2)

Each party, each political committee, and each candidate requesting to have poll watchers shall designate, in writing to the supervisors of elections, on a form prescribed by the division, before noon of the second Tuesday preceding the election poll watchers for each polling room on election day. Designations of poll watchers for early voting areas shall be submitted in writing to the supervisor of elections, on a form prescribed by the division, before noon at least 14 days before early voting begins. The poll watchers for polling rooms shall be approved by the supervisor of elections on or before the Tuesday before the election. Poll watchers for early voting areas shall be approved by the supervisor of elections no later than 7 days before early voting begins. The supervisor shall furnish to each election board a list of the poll watchers designated and approved for such polling rooms or early voting areas. Designation of poll watchers shall be made by the chair of the county executive committee of a political party, the chair of a political committee, or the candidate requesting to have poll watchers.

(3)

No candidate or sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer, or other law enforcement officer may be designated as a poll watcher.

(4)

All poll watchers shall be allowed to enter and watch polls in all polling rooms and early voting areas within the county in which they have been designated if the number of poll watchers at any particular polling place does not exceed the number provided in this section.

(5)

The supervisor of elections shall provide to each designated poll watcher an identification badge which identifies the poll watcher by name. Each poll watcher must wear his or her identification badge while performing his or her duties.

Source: Section 101.131 — Watchers at polls, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0101.­131 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

101.001
Precincts and polling places
101.002
Use of system by municipalities
101.015
Standards for voting systems
101.017
Bureau of Voting Systems Certification
101.019
Ranked-choice voting prohibited
101.20
Publication of ballot form
101.21
Official ballots
101.021
Elector to vote the primary ballot of the political party in which he or she is registered
101.23
Election inspector to keep list of those voting
101.24
Ballot boxes and ballots
101.031
Instructions for electors
101.34
Custody of voting system
101.041
Secret voting
101.43
Substitute ballot
101.043
Identification required at polls
101.045
Electors must be registered in precinct
101.048
Provisional ballots
101.49
Procedure of election officers where signatures differ
101.049
Provisional ballots
101.51
Electors to occupy booth alone
101.051
Electors seeking assistance in casting ballots
101.58
Supervising and observing registration and election processes
101.62
Request for vote-by-mail ballots
101.64
Delivery of vote-by-mail ballots
101.65
Instructions to absent electors
101.67
Safekeeping of mailed ballots
101.68
Canvassing of vote-by-mail ballot
101.69
Voting in person
101.71
Polling place
101.74
Temporary change of polling place in case of emergency
101.75
Municipal elections
101.111
Voter challenges
101.131
Watchers at polls
101.151
Specifications for ballots
101.161
Referenda
101.171
Copy of constitutional amendment to be available at voting locations
101.252
Candidates entitled to have names printed on certain ballots
101.254
When nominated names to appear in groups or districts
101.292
Definitions
101.293
Competitive sealed bids and proposals required
101.294
Purchase and sale of voting equipment
101.295
Penalties for violation
101.341
Prohibited activities by voting system custodians and deputy custodians
101.545
Retention and destruction of certain election materials
101.572
Public inspection of ballots
101.591
Voting system audit
101.595
Analysis and reports of voting problems
101.655
Supervised voting by absent electors in certain facilities
101.657
Early voting
101.661
Voting vote-by-mail ballots
101.662
Accessibility of vote-by-mail ballots
101.663
Electors
101.665
Administration of oaths
101.694
Mailing of ballots upon receipt of federal postcard application
101.697
Electronic transmission of election materials
101.698
Absentee voting in emergency situations
101.715
Accessibility of polling places for people having a disability
101.731
Short title
101.732
Definitions relating to Elections Emergency Act
101.733
Election emergency
101.2512
Candidates’ names on general election ballots
101.2515
Translation of ballot language
101.5601
Short title
101.5602
Purpose
101.5603
Definitions relating to Electronic Voting Systems Act
101.5604
Adoption of system
101.5605
Examination and approval of equipment
101.5606
Requirements for approval of systems
101.5607
Department of State to maintain voting system information
101.5608
Voting by electronic or electromechanical method
101.5610
Inspection of ballot by election board
101.5611
Instructions to electors
101.5612
Testing of tabulating equipment
101.5613
Examination of equipment during voting
101.5614
Canvass of returns
101.5911
Rulemaking authority for voting system audit procedures
101.6101
Short title
101.6102
Mail ballot elections
101.6103
Mail ballot election procedure
101.6104
Challenge of votes
101.6105
Vote-by-mail voting
101.6106
Application of other election laws
101.6107
Department of State to adopt rules
101.6921
Delivery of special vote-by-mail ballot to certain first-time voters
101.6923
Special vote-by-mail ballot instructions for certain first-time voters
101.6925
Canvassing special vote-by-mail ballots
101.6951
State write-in vote-by-mail ballot
101.6952
Vote-by-mail ballots for absent uniformed services and overseas voters
101.56042
Punch card type systems prohibited
101.56062
Standards for accessible voting systems
101.56063
Accessibility of voting systems and polling places
101.56064
Application for federal funds under ch. 2002-281
101.56065
Voting system defects
101.56075
Voting methods

Current through Fall 2025

§ 101.131. Watchers at polls's source at flsenate​.gov