From the federal government to Gov. Gavin Newsom to community watch groups, there is undoubtedly a lot of interest in observing the ongoing 2026 election in California.
And while there’s been a lot of attention on election observing — particularly as the Trump administration’s battle with California over alleged noncitizen voting has escalated — the process is not new.
It’s actually “a really important thing” to observe voting and ballot processing, said Pam Smith, president of Verified Voting, a nonpartisan organization that examines technology’s impact on elections.
“People should care, and especially in California, we enjoy a very high degree of transparency in how we conduct elections,” Smith said. “Transparency is more important than ever.”
In California, observers can watch all stages of the election process, from in-person voting to the processing of mail ballots to post-election audits. Observers cannot run an election. Rather, they act as witnesses to the behind-the-scenes work that goes into the whole process.
Election officials and observers are prohibited by state law from interfering with the election process, including campaigning, collecting private voter data, and more, the California secretary of state’s office details.
Observers are able to watch the process both in person and, in some counties, through live streams of ballot processing activities.
Smith also said people can witness the post-election process of manually checking a certain number of paper ballots to ensure the electronic count was accurate.
“It’s important and is designed to help people better understand what’s going on and see with their own eyes how elections work,” Smith said of election monitoring.
“The more people understand how elections work, it demystifies the questions they have, and the more people can see the foundation for trust in elections,” Smith added. “It’s a valuable thing to participate in and realize you’re a part of something that is happening across the country on the same day for everybody.”
Observers are prohibited from interfering with the election process. But they can alert a staff member — many county election offices have dedicated staff to help observers — and they can contact California’s voter hotline at 800-345-8683.
Observers should also check with the county election office on specific guidelines or rules for observing. In Orange County, for example, observers must check in with appropriate staff, and they will receive a special badge.
Observers cannot go into an occupied voting booth, display any campaign material, directly challenge a voter, touch election-related equipment or staff, prevent other watchers from observing, or use cell phones or cameras outside of designated areas, according to the county’s guidance.