Watchers; provision for

§ 8-500. Watchers; provision for. 1. At any general, special, town or village election, any party committee, any independent body whose candidates are upon the ballot, and any political committee supporting or opposing a ballot proposal may have for each election district three watchers at any one time, not more than one of whom may be within the guard rail at any one time. Watchers shall be appointed by the chair or other officer of any such party committee, independent body or political committee.

2. At any primary election, any party committee and any candidate on the ballot may have for each election district three watchers at any one time, not more than one of whom may be within the guard rail at any one time. Watchers shall be appointed by the chair or other officer of any such party committee or by any candidate.

3. Watchers may be present at the polling place at least fifteen minutes before the unlocking and examination of any voting machine or ballot box at the opening of the polls, until after the signing of the inspectors' returns and proclamation of the result.

4. The appointment of watchers for any election shall be by a certificate in writing issued by the appointing authority. Such certificate shall be delivered to an inspector at the election district.

5. Each watcher must be a qualified voter of the city or county in which he or she is to serve; provided, however, a qualified voter who is a New York state resident and is licensed to practice law therein may serve as a watcher at any polling place. No person shall be appointed or act as a watcher who is a candidate for any public office to be voted for by the voters of the election district in the same election in which the watcher is to serve. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as prohibiting any such candidate from visiting a polling place in such district on an election day while the polls are open.