Secretary of State Beth Chapman responded
today regarding the visitors who are in Alabama with the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe/Office of Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights (OSCE/ODIHR). In recent reports,
OSCE representatives say they will be “watching everything and everyone” on
Election Day. Chapman says that they
better watch it from afar because even she, as the state’s chief election
official is not allowed inside the polling places other than to vote.
Secretary Chapman says that Alabama citizens
should know that only qualified electors in Alabama can be appointed as poll
watchers and workers and no other watchers are to be inside the polling place
on Election Day. “The visitors will definitely
not be allowed inside polling locations on Election Day and will have
absolutely no direct involvement with the voting process,” Secretary Chapman
stated.
Even though OSCE says they are not directly
affiliated with the United Nations, Secretary Chapman says that Alabama
elections are never a place for UN involvement.
“They may believe that they are going to be
watching ‘everything and everyone’ on Tuesday, but the truth of the matter is,
they will be watching what they can from at least 30 feet behind the doors of a
polling place. Anyone who sees otherwise
should call our office immediately,” Secretary Chapman said.
Anyone in any polling place being approached
by or observing anyone from the OSCE is asked to call the Secretary of State’s
hotline at 1-800-274-VOTE.
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