§ 8-500. Watchers; provision for. 1. At any general, special, town or
village election, any party committee, any independent body whose
candidates are upon the ballot, and any political committee supporting
or opposing a ballot proposal may have for each election district three
watchers at any one time, not more than one of whom may be within the
guard rail at any one time. Watchers shall be appointed by the chair or
other officer of any such party committee, independent body or political
committee.

2. At any primary election, any party committee and any candidate on
the ballot may have for each election district three watchers at any one
time, not more than one of whom may be within the guard rail at any one
time. Watchers shall be appointed by the chair or other officer of any
such party committee or by any candidate.

3. Watchers may be present at the polling place at least fifteen
minutes before the unlocking and examination of any voting machine or
ballot box at the opening of the polls, until after the signing of the
inspectors' returns and proclamation of the result.

4. The appointment of watchers for any election shall be by a
certificate in writing issued by the appointing authority. Such
certificate shall be delivered to an inspector at the election district.

5. Each watcher must be a qualified voter of the city or county in
which he or she is to serve; provided, however, a qualified voter who is
a New York state resident and is licensed to practice law therein may
serve as a watcher at any polling place. No person shall be appointed or
act as a watcher who is a candidate for any public office to be voted
for by the voters of the election district in the same election in which
the watcher is to serve. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed
as prohibiting any such candidate from visiting a polling place in such
district on an election day while the polls are open.