With the November 3 General Election now less than two months away, local election officials are working to ensure they’ll have enough poll workers to handle the turnout.
“We always need extra poll workers,” says Habersham County Elections Supervisor Laurel Ellison adding, “we will need more than the usual” this year. That’s because presidential elections traditionally pull the highest voter turnout and this year is expected to be record-breaking. It is estimated that over 5 million Georgians will vote at approximately 2,600 polling places across Georgia on election day. Hundreds of thousands more are expected to vote absentee.
Beyond the sheer size and scope of the November election, there’s a continuing concern about public health and safety.
Poll workers tend to be retirement age and 80% of COVID-19 deaths in the United States have been among people 65 or older. Many Georgians who signed up to work the polls in elections this year backed out due to coronavirus worries.
The Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is now enlisted to help recruit Spanish-speaking poll workers. And the Georgia Department of Transportation has signed on with the Secretary of State’s Office to help bring in younger poll workers.
“When COVID-19 swept through Georgia, Georgia’s elderly poll workers stayed home to minimize their exposure to the pandemic,” says Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. “Through these partnerships, like the one with the Georgia Department of Transportation, we will be able to recruit younger poll workers and help provide a safe and easy experience for Georgia’s voters in November.”
County election officials decide which poll worker candidates to hire. While the pay varies from county to county, poll workers generally earn about $60 – $140 per day plus $20 – $30 for training days. Poll Managers and Assistant Poll Managers may earn more, according to information provided by the Secretary of State’s Office.
Poll workers must be a resident or employee of the county where they apply. They’ll help with traditional tasks, like checking voters’ IDs and help them navigate the ballot-marking machines. But this year they’ll also be charged with sanitizing surfaces and other coronavirus precautions.
So far, about 14,600 Georgians have signed up as poll workers this summer, seeming to put the state’s goal to recruit 20,000 new precinct staffers by November’s election within reach.
If you’re interested in becoming a poll worker, you may sign up online at securevotega.com/pollworker-signup/ or contact your local elections office.
Large groups seeking to serve together at a specific precinct should contact their election officials directly. Contact information is available through the Georgia Secretary of State’s website at https://elections.sos.ga.gov/Elections/countyelectionoffices.do.
Stanley Dunlap of Georgia Recorder contributed to this report
