Best Practices For Election Boards (Spring 2026)

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The Election Board should be dressed in comfortable, but professional attire. Men, clean-shaven, in shirt and tie. Ladies in pantsuits or conservative dress. Always wear comfortable footwear..

The Inspectors should be seated so that they are the first who the voters will see. The clerk should be seated in between the two Inspectors, if the County requires a separate vote tally list. The Judge is seated at the far end of the table. The Machine Inspector is beside the voting machines, or if there are two machines - in between the machines.

The table for voters filling out Provisional Ballots should be behind the Election Board Table. A divider should be set up for extra privacy. All Provisional Ballot materials should be setout on the table. for you.

Try to keep the Election Board Table as free of clutter as possible. Keep E-Book and printer cables out of the way of handwriting and E-Book operations.

The Polling Place should already have a U.S. Flag. It should be displayed near the Voting Machines. Some counties provide miniature U.S. Flags for the Election Board table in the event the Polling Place does not have a full-size room flag. Put the miniature U.S. Flag at the front of the table alongside the placard PSAEBO provides you listing the names of the Election Board Members. Don't put the miniature flag in front of the Inspectors or the Judge so as to avoid getting knocked over. 

Constables should not be in uniform, as such may be intimidating to voters. The shield may be on a chain, belt, or pocket. The firearm should NEVER be visible. If the Constable uses a radio, employ an earpiece. 

Constables best keep the peace by de-escalating any incident. Always speak softly, never match the belligerents' voices.  Try to usher any disturbance to outside of the polling place. Don't take sides. Be as diplomatic as possible, but remain firm. Don't flaunt authority, but don't conceal it either.

Constables should assure the elderly and the disabled are assisted with courtesy and respect. Offer to get a chair in case they need to sit when the line is long. REMEMBER - the Constable should never assist a voter inside the Machine.

The Constable should be certified by the American Red Cross or a similar NGO in administering first aid and CPR. Election Day is when there are more senior citizens than usual.

At the Judge's instructions, promptly open the Polling Place doors at 7:00 AM Sharp. At 8:00 PM, close the doors behind the last voter already standing in line. Even if the voter arriving at 8:02 PM is your best friend and neighbor, the doors are closed - no exceptions.

Once a voter has cast his or her ballot, they are to depart - not hang around and gossip with neighbors (which they are free to do outside of the polling place). Only poll watchers and County election officials are allowed to come in and out the Polling Place throughout the day.