Illinois Statutes § 5/19A-60 Pollwatchers

Pollwatchers may be appointed to observe early voting by personal appearance at each permanent and temporary polling place where early voting is conducted. The pollwatchers shall qualify and be appointed in the same manner as provided in Sections 7-34 and 17-23, except that each candidate, political party, or organization of citizens may appoint only one pollwatcher for each location where early voting by personal appearance is conducted. Pollwatchers must be residents of the State and possess valid pollwatcher credentials.

Pollwatchers shall be permitted to observe all proceedings and view all reasonably requested records relating to the conduct of the early voting, provided the secrecy of the ballot is not impinged, and to station themselves in a position in the voting room as will enable them to observe the judges or election authority personnel making the signature comparison between the voter application and the voter registration record card; provided, however, that the pollwatchers shall not be permitted to station themselves in such close proximity to the judges of election or election authority personnel so as to interfere with the orderly conduct of the voting and shall not, in any event, be permitted to handle voting or election materials. Pollwatchers may challenge for cause the voting qualifications of a person offering to vote and may call to the attention of the judges of election or election authority personnel any incorrect procedure or apparent violations of this Code.

The judges of election or election authority personnel conducting early voting, or a majority of either of these, have the power and authority to hear and determine the legality of an early voting ballot.