Partisan Poll Watchers and Americans' Perceptions of Electoral Fairness.

This article examines how the presence and characteristics of poll watchers—individuals authorized to observe elections, often representing political parties—affect Americans' perceptions of electoral fairness and integrity. Using two large conjoint experiments and one vignette experiment with national samples, the study finds that elections are generally viewed as fairer when poll watchers from both political parties or state-employed watchers are present, especially when they wear identification badges. However, elections with only one party's poll watchers are perceived as less fair, and partisan polarization influences these perceptions, with voters favoring poll watchers aligned with their own party. Additionally, exposure to news stories depicting poll watchers acting in bad faith reduces trust in elections among both Republicans and Democrats, highlighting the complex role poll watchers play in shaping public confidence in electoral processes.