County Clerk Ken Waller said he’s seeking people to work polling places on Election Day as judges representing the Democratic Party.
He said there’s a shortage of Democratic poll workers heading into the Aug. 2 primary election.
“We need to get up to our full complement of judges and get them trained, not only for the August primaries but also for the November general election,” he said.
Deputy County Clerk Jeannie Goff said 400 to 450 people are needed to work the polls in August, and by state election law, there must be an equal number of judges from each of the two major political parties.
“Half of that needs to be Democratic judges, so we’re talking 200 to 225 people,” she said. “We’re not talking about a massive number we need, maybe about 20 or 30, but we’re having trouble filling those spots.”
Waller said his office likes to keep a full roster of judges.
“You get people who can’t report to the polls at the last minute because of illness or other reasons,” he said. “It’s always a good idea to have more than you need if you can.”
Goff said the roster of people serving as Democratic poll workers has tailed off over the last few years as Jefferson County has transitioned from a solid Democratic county to a swing area to one that is now a Republican stronghold.
“I don’t know whether it’s because of COVID, or whether some of the poll workers have just decided not to do it for a number of other reasons, including the political change, but we’re certainly down when it comes to Democratic poll workers,” she said.
Waller said age also has taken its toll on the roster of election poll workers.
“These are people who generally aren’t in their 50s or 60s, but more in their 70s and 80s,” he said. “Certainly some of them have died, but I think mostly, it’s not wanting to do it anymore. They’re tired.”
Goff, who’s worked in the County Clerk’s Office for 35 years, said she remembers the days when Republican poll workers were in short supply.
Waller said political ideology doesn’t have to be a factor when it comes to being an effective poll worker.
“It’s much more about the process, making sure the process works as it should, than it is about pushing a political agenda,” Waller said. “The political part of it isn’t really a factor in working the polls. When you go to vote, you can’t necessarily tell who’s a Republican judge and who’s a Democratic judge. What the judges are there for is to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
Goff said the qualifications to be a poll worker are minimal.
“You have to be a registered voter, and be able to read, write and speak English,” she said. “You can’t be an elected official or appear for an office on that ballot. Close relatives of people on the ballot can’t serve in a polling place where their relatives are on the ballot, unless they’re unopposed.”
Poll workers are paid $150 for the day’s work, plus $25 to attend a training session. For information, call the County Clerk’s Office at 636-797-5486.