Call it civic duty.  Call it curiosity about the other side of the process.  Call it profound commitment in getting insight into knowing who won. Whatever you call it, I was on the other side of the election procedures I'd been teaching for about a decade.  I'd always cautioned students in the election law classes to beware of poll-watchers, since they are not "part of the election team." They are to be accorded courtesy. They are not to be given privileges when the election staffers at the tables, scanners, BMDs (Ballot Marking Device — essentially a large metal device that functioned as a giant pencil, amplifying type, changing the color of background so voters could more easily vote, or doing a variety of tasks that can be utilized by the visually impaired or the physically challenged.  These devices have a variety of accessories, too, for the quadriplegics or those with breathing difficulties.  But for...(Read Full Article)