How misplaced are these intentions?

From the AP: "Polling places experienced scattered problems early Tuesday as legions of lawyers, election-rights activists and computer scientists watched, particularly in battleground states, for any trouble that could disenfranchise voters. "

OK...so, if these people are all so concerned, why are these "lawyers, election-rights activists and computer scientists" watching the polling places instead of, say, volunteering to work at a polling place and have things work properly, since they seem to know the right way to do things?

Just wondered...