2019 New York Laws
ELN - Election
Article 8 - Conduct of Elections
Title 5 - Challenging Voters
8-500 - Watchers; Provision For.

§  8-500. Watchers; provision for. 1. At any general, special, town or
  village election,  any  party  committee,  any  independent  body  whose
  candidates  are  upon the ballot, and any political committee supporting
  or opposing a ballot proposal may have for each election district  three
  watchers  at  any  one time, not more than one of whom may be within the
  guard rail at any one time. Watchers shall be appointed by the chair  or
  other officer of any such party committee, independent body or political
  committee.
2.  At  any primary election, any party committee and any candidate on
  the ballot may have for each election district three watchers at any one
  time, not more than one of whom may be within the guard rail at any  one
  time.  Watchers  shall be appointed by the chair or other officer of any
  such party committee or by any candidate.
3. Watchers may be present at  the  polling  place  at  least  fifteen
  minutes  before  the  unlocking and examination of any voting machine or
  ballot box at the opening of the polls, until after the signing  of  the
  inspectors' returns and proclamation of the result.
4.  The  appointment  of  watchers  for  any  election  shall  be by a
  certificate  in  writing  issued  by  the  appointing  authority.   Such
  certificate shall be delivered to an inspector at the election district.
5.  Each  watcher  must  be a qualified voter of the city or county in
  which he or she is to serve. No person shall be appointed or  act  as  a
  watcher  who is a candidate for any public office to be voted for by the
  voters of the election district  in  the  same  election  in  which  the
  watcher  is  to serve. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as
  prohibiting any such candidate from visiting a  polling  place  in  such
  district on an election day while the polls are open.