One authorized representative observer of each candidate in the election and one representative from each political party shall be permitted to be in the room in which the absentee ballots and mail-in ballots are pre-canvassed/canvassed; provided, however, that if the number of observers is such that there is insufficient space to accommodate all observers at one time, then the observer for each of the two major parties, each of the two major campaigns for US Senator from Pennsylvania, and each of the two major campaigns for Governor of Pennsylvania shall be permitted to remain, while other observers may be permitted to be in the room on a rotating basis as space permits.
Persons observing or participating in the pre-canvass are strictly prohibited from disclosing any results of the pre-canvass prior to the close of the polls at 8 pm on Election Day.
Any party or candidate seeking to have an observer at the pre-canvass or canvass must email ElectionBoardMembers@co.delaware.pa.us and provide us with the name of each observer they would like to appoint, the observer’s address, and—if the observer is the attorney for a party or candidate—the PA Bar number of the observer.
DEADLINE: Observer requests must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2022 in order to be approved before Election Day. Requests received after that deadline will be processed if and as time permits and may not be processed prior to the start of the pre-canvass or canvass.
Observers must be pre-approved in accordance with the process described above and pass a security screening in order to be admitted to the pre-canvass and canvass. Each observer must sign the observer log and a written declaration not to disclose the results of any portion of the pre-canvass prior to the close of the polls at 8 pm on Election Day in order to gain admission to the pre-canvass/canvass.
Each observer must remain in the physical area(s) within the room designated for observers. Observers may not disrupt or interfere with Board staff performing the pre-canvass and canvass. Observers shall not be permitted to take photographs, video or audio recordings, or use mobile phones inside the observation area during the pre-canvass or canvass. Any observer who does not remain within the designated observer area, does not comply with safety guidelines, violates the prohibitions against interference with Board staff or against the taking of photographs, recordings, or mobile phone use, or engages in any other disruptive conduct shall be removed from the pre-canvass/canvass. Any observer removed from the pre-canvass/canvass for failure to remain in the designated observer area, failure to comply with safety guidelines, or for any other disruptive conduct shall not be readmitted to the pre-canvass/canvass.
The Board reserves the right to refuse to admit a substitute for any individual removed for violating the rules.
Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Election Code, observers do not have the right to raise any challenges or objections to any ballots during the pre-canvass or canvass. Any observer who attempts to raise such challenges may be removed from the room for engaging in disruptive conduct.