(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Secretary of State’s office has released a video explaining the roll of poll watchers on Election Day. A narrator lists all the requirements and limitations during the nearly five-minute long video.  “A poll watcher is a person who has official permission to be at the polling place on Election Day or in the room where absentee ballots are counted before the polls close.”

The move comes as both political parties have increased recruitment of people to observe Election Day voting. Candidates or people who hold political office cannot be poll watchers. Poll watchers must provide written permission to a precinct’s election workers that they’ve been appointed by a Democrat, Republican or Libertarian Party official or by a political organization that does not have major party status in Iowa, like the Green Party.

Candidates nominated by petition may also appoint poll watchers. State officials say poll watchers are to observe, but not interfere with the election process. Poll watchers who interrupt or try to influence a voter who’s casting a ballot can be arrested and charged with third degree election misconduct.