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NPAction Staff

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Push for Poll Workers As Election Nears

Jurisdictions across the Washington, D.C. area are trying to staff their precincts with an abundant number of workers to accommodate the influx of voters expected at the polls for the coming election. Elections officials say they are preparing for what could be a record turnout, as a higher profile election attracts a greater number of interested citizens. The Washington Post published an article that stresses anticipated statewide voter turnout in both Maryland and Virginia will exceed 85 percent in the November election. Virginia, especially, is expected to have more voters at the poll than in previous elections considering the state’s unusual position this year as a swing state.

Poll workers commonly work out of a sense of civic responsibility rather than for the money, being that they typically make only $100 or $200 a day. Responsibilities include but are not limited to checking in voters, assisting with ballots, and driving poll information to elections headquarters. Additional workers, however, are currently necessary to prevent disgruntled voters from waiting in long lines, and to prevent current poll workers from being overworked, creating the possibility that mistakes be made.

To accommodate the rising number of voters at the polls, officials are hoping to recruit thousands of workers across various counties in the Washington, D.C. area before the election.