Alaska Statutes § 15.10.170 Appointment and privileges of watchers

(a) The precinct party committee, where an organized precinct committee exists, or the party district committee where no organized precinct committee exists, or the state party chairperson where neither a precinct nor a party district committee exists, may appoint one or more persons as watchers in each precinct and counting center for any election. Each candidate may appoint one or more watchers for each precinct or counting center in the candidate's respective district or the state for any election. Any organization or organized group that sponsors or opposes an initiative, referendum, or recall may have one or more persons as watchers at the polls and counting centers after first obtaining authorization from the director. A state party chairperson, a precinct party committee, a party district committee, or a candidate may not have more than one watcher on duty at a time in any precinct or counting center. A watcher must be a United States citizen. The watcher may be present at a position inside the place of voting or counting that affords a full view of all action of the election officials taken from the time the polls are opened until the ballots are finally counted and the results certified by the election board or the data processing review board. The election board or the data processing review board may require each watcher to present written proof showing appointment by the precinct party committee, the party district committee, the organization or organized group, or the candidate the watcher represents.

(b) In addition to the watchers appointed under (a) of this section, in a primary election or special primary election or special election under AS 15.40.140 , each candidate may appoint one watcher in each precinct and counting center.