N.Y. Elec. Law § 8-500

§ 8-500. Watchers; provision for. 1. At any general, special, town or\nvillage election, any party committee or independent body whose\ncandidates are upon the ballot, and at any primary election, any two or\nmore candidates and any political committee may have for each election\ndistrict three watchers at any one time, not more than one of whom may\nbe within the guard rail at any one time. Watchers shall be appointed by\nthe chairman of any such party, committee or independent body or by the\ncandidates.\n 2. Watchers may be present at the polling place at least fifteen\nminutes before the unlocking and examination of any voting machine or\nballot box at the opening of the polls, until after the signing of the\ninspectors' returns and proclamation of the result.\n 3. The appointment of watchers for any election shall be by a\ncertificate in writing issued by the chairman or secretary of the\npolitical party or independent body, or the candidates. Such certificate\nshall be delivered to an inspector at the election district.\n 4. Each watcher must be a qualified voter of the city or county in\nwhich he or she is to serve. No person shall be appointed or act as a\nwatcher who is a candidate for any public office to be voted for by the\nvoters of the election district in the same election in which the\nwatcher is to serve. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as\nprohibiting any such candidate from visiting a polling place in such\ndistrict on an election day while the polls are open.\n