Modify Candidate Authority Watchers General Election

Section 2 of the bill modifies current law to authorize, but not require, a candidate nominated to be on the ballot by a participating political party (candidate-nominee) in a general or congressional vacancy election to choose the watchers permitted in each central count facility. These watchers must be selected by the candidate-nominee in accordance with existing processes and limitations for such watchers. If a candidate-nominee exercises their authority to choose the watchers in each central count facility, then the participating political party represented by the candidate-nominee must abide by the candidate-nominee's choices and is not entitled to different or additional watchers at the count facilities. The participating political party remains entitled to watchers of its choice during signature verification and at each voter service and polling center in accordance with current law. provides that in recounts for congressional, state, and district office of state concern elections, a candidate who is subject to a recount may select one watcher in addition to any watchers otherwise selected for the recount. Section 3 requires that the same provisions for watchers at general and congressional vacancy elections, as modified by section 2 , be applied to any recount for a United States senator, representative in congress, and any state office or district office of state concern. provides that, in a recount for an election coordinated by a county clerk and recorder that is not a congressional, state, or district office of state concern election, the county clerk and recorder shall ensure that any candidate who is subject to a recount may select one watcher for the recount in addition to any watchers otherwise selected for the recount. Section 1 makes a conforming amendment to the definition of "watcher".

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)