Often, ward heelers have been low-level operatives soliciting votes and performing campaign tasks on behalf of a political boss, including get-out-the-vote efforts, placing campaign signage, coordination of constituent support, etc.
In some round-robin format competitions the header and heeler are awarded points for each catch instead of timing the run.
So ward heeler has the connotation of a "corrupt" political operative.
A ward heeler may have controlling influence with a small clique in the ward organization.
Examples of illegal acts which a ward heeler might do include tearing down an opposition party's posters or paying constituents for their votes.
At lower levels, a team may take longer, particularly if the heeler misses the first throw and has to try again.
When he or she has a clear throw, the heeler throws a loop of rope under the running steer's hind legs and catches them.
At higher levels, the header and the heeler are allowed only one throw each, if either misses, the team gets no score.
