How to serve as a poll worker on Nov. 8 · Spotlight PA

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HARRISBURG — When Pennsylvania holds its 2022 general election in November, thousands of poll workers will ensure the voting goes smoothly. You could be one of them.

Counties are currently recruiting staff to work at the state’s more than 9,000 polling stations. The Pennsylvania State Department has for many years expressed concern about the shortage of poll workers, a problem exacerbated by the pandemic.

Election workers view their work as an opportunity to serve their state and community, meet new people, and learn more about Pennsylvania elections.

The State Department is accepting applications to become a poll worker on an ongoing basis, but those interested should apply by November 2nd at the latest.

Would you like to find out more? Here’s what you need to know:

The requirements

There are few requirements to become a poll worker. First, you must be a registered voter and can only serve in the district where you live.

High school students age 17 and older may volunteer if they meet the requirements set by their county electoral board.

Second, poll workers cannot be current government employees or officials, with the exception of district judges, notaries public, or members of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Likewise, persons whose names appear on the ballot may not act as poll workers, with the exception of candidates for local election officials, including polling judges.

the duties

Poll workers must be available throughout Election Day before polling stations open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m

Election workers help set up, open and close a polling station. They take voters’ names, check them in and help with voting equipment.

There are some specialized poll worker positions that are elected. Each polling station has a local Electoral Board composed of an Electoral Judge, a Majority Inspector and a Minority Inspector. All three agencies help manage the polling station, keep track of the number of voters and ensure results are received by the district elections office.

Other specialized positions – such as the machine operator – support the municipal electoral board and are filled by agreement. They oversee the voting machines used in elections.

Regular poll workers or clerks assist with voter check-in, manage the queues, and guide voters through each step of the process.

Poll officials are not partisan election monitors appointed by candidates or political parties and can challenge a voter’s eligibility to vote (although they cannot question or speak to them directly).

The workout

People who want to become poll workers must complete mandatory training in person or online before Election Day.

Each district conducts its own training as voting systems vary. Some counties use optical scanners to process ballots, while others use other types of voting machines.

Counties also handle security threat training differently. According to the State Department, each county is dealing with what to do in the event of common threats and disruptive behavior at the polling station.

Patti Hess, the Fulton County elections director, said there are police officers at polling stations in her county to ensure safety and emergency instructions are included in a guide that poll workers have on hand.

“When someone comes in, it’s in their book,” she said. “The sheriff’s office number is right there.”

Training materials for poll workers in Lancaster and York counties guide poll workers to call local law enforcement about gun and bomb threats and other emergencies such as fire or power outages.

Additional training for election workers can be found online. They include videos and instructions on how to check in voters, verify voter ID, and accept provisional ballots — which are filled out by people whose eligibility cannot be immediately verified.

The payment

Under the election law, the legal minimum wage for poll workers is $75 per day, with a maximum of $200.

Higher pay is usually reserved for selected positions. Poll workers who attend certain training events may be eligible for additional compensation. Overall, the allocation of salaries is largely at the discretion of the County Commissioners.

How to sign up

If you are interested, you can apply by filling out a form on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Some counties have their own forms on their election websites. You can find your county’s website here.

The form asks for basic contact information and location, as well as special skills that could help you as a poll worker, such as: B. mastering a foreign language.

This information is then sent to your county Elections Office, which will contact you if they need more workers. Jonathan Marks, Pennsylvania assistant secretary for elections and commissions, recommends contacting the county office if you haven’t heard anything in 1-2 weeks.

You can find the contact details for your federal state here.

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