Common Cause Texas
Election Protection Poll Monitoring
These trained, nonpartisan volunteers serve as voters’ first line of defense.
Posted January 28, 2026
Background & Context
Every eligible voter deserves to have their vote counted.
That’s the cornerstone of our democracy. And we all suffer when eligible, registered voters are turned away from the polls, unable to find their polling place, or otherwise blocked from exercising their rights.
That’s why every election year, we recruit, train, and deploy thousands of Election Protection volunteers across the nation. These trained, nonpartisan volunteers serve as voters’ first line of defense against confusing voting rules, outdated infrastructure, rampant misinformation, and needless obstacles to the ballot box.
With misinformation running rampant on social media and thousands of proposed new anti-voter restrictions, we need our programs to match or exceed that effort in every election this year. This is simply an unprecedented time for our elections, and that’s why we’re asking for your help today.
Work & Deliverables
Stationary Poll Monitors will set up outside designated polling locations to assist voters and report problems to the helpline.
Roving Poll Monitors will visit multiple polling locations to check for issue—long lines, voter intimidation, and accessibility—and quickly deploy to polling locations when problems are reported to the helpline.
On Demand Training is available, and volunteers are asked to complete it as soon as possible to be eligible to participate in the program. To complete on demand training, first watch the recorded training (link below), then complete the quiz that follows, then complete the next steps emailed to you after you pass the quiz.
Training video:
https://commoncause-org.zoom.us/rec/play/O8m3LT_LaIJ2E9SpLvjAYmlLL2HXUZqVZbcaCeQ6XVSfcg96UnjOTHJDRjHN-XPX809vkvKbdRdV929r.PdVRqsWKDSnGpPYi?eagerLoadZvaPages
Preparation Phase
- Attend a training
- Pick up materials
Collaboration Phase
- Sign up for shift
- Attend shift
Wrap Up
- Submit poll site toolkit
Common Cause Texas
We put our proven policy expertise, our network of grassroots supporters, and our nonpartisan approach into action to strengthen our democracy against the challenges it faces today. We work across Texas on priorities that impact each of our lives—like defending the right to vote, holding our government more accountable, promoting transparency, and more.
Common Cause Texas
We put our proven policy expertise, our network of grassroots supporters, and our nonpartisan approach into action to strengthen our democracy against the challenges it faces today. We work across Texas on priorities that impact each of our lives—like defending the right to vote, holding our government more accountable, promoting transparency, and more.