Older S in CA says noone has contacted him about working the polls, though he applied a couple months ago.
Expat S is election monitoring in his country. Was supposed to go to Moldova or Republic of Georgia, but monitoring was cancelled thanks to Covid.
I heard Vote Forward was over 17 million letters now.
Donated $ to World Central Kitchen, who is serving meals to voters in line.
I signed up to be a poll worker, and did accept ballots at a turn in event in a local park. It was rather lovely, sitting outside for 3 hours, and accepting absentee ballots from neighbors and friends.
But, I am re thinking actually working the polls. My city has plenty of workers. I signed up originally as so many older workers were not returning and I wanted to help. I did work with Covid in the hospital until mid September and may again in the next few weeks as case numbers are increasing dramatically in my area. I felt and still feel I can protect myself from covid working the polls with my PPE. However, between being old-ish, and the fact that I may work with COVID in the days leading up to the election has made me re consider my infectious risk to others and should probably bow out.
Kudos to those working phone banks. I have done it and there is nothing fun about the process.
Poll workers in my area are asked to work 5:00 am - 10:00 pm on Election Day, and to bring two meals to eat quickly on two short breaks.
Is that what other states require, too? Seems like a huge ask.
Our polls are open 7-7. Some choose to work all day (and election officials do) but most work a shift - either 6:30 to noon or noon to 7:30-8pm. A meal and snacks/drinks are provided. Minimum wage is paid but some like myself do it as a volunteer.
@abasket you are a first time poll worker. Honestly a three hour poll worker training is not unrealistic…at all. Remember that you need to know about ALL the jobs at the polls because you could be asked to sit in for someone else while they have a break or something. You will also be given info about the specific statutes in your state…what can and can’t happen. It’s a ton of information.
Where I am, poll workers are not volunteers. This is a paid position and one is also paid for the training sessions.
Our training session is Thursday. It will be longer than usual because the trainers will be discussing issues that might crop up and what to do.
@PetraMC polls in CT are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Poll workers are there from 5:00 a.m. (place needs to be completed in terms of set up…signage etc). The end is whenever the responsibility of that poll worker has ended after the polls close. Some folks will leave earlier than others.
Except for the moderator who must agree to work the full day, the other days can be split in half. I’m working the 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. shift as a checker. Someone else will take my place and be there until that job is done.
Re: meals…since there is no shared food allowed because of Covid, we are asked to bring our own food. In normal situations, we get coffee and donuts/bagels in the morning, provide our own lunches, and get dinner. But not this year.
We have a pretty large poll worker crew at each of our voting places this time in anticipation of a large turnout.
Thank you to all who are working at the polls!
@thumper1 I do not object to a 3 hour training. I do object to a 2 hour notice for a 3 hour training, requiring that training to being in person with a decent sized group.
I could care less about the pay. I would have refused it if possible.
I will continue my virtual election help and arrive to be a poll monitor with my bells on. Very happy to help and assist.
You can’t refuse the pay. But you can take it and make a donation.
Election workers are paid…no pretense of nepotism or favoritism is allowed. Everyone gets paid. I don’t know if this is true in every state…or not.
Two hours notice isn’t a lot of notice. Are you sure you didn’t miss something earlier? Our poll workers were told that the training would be this week at a day and time to be determined. Ours is in person as well. There will be about 24 of us…room is large and we will be able to easily social distance. Masks required.
I’m glad you found another way to be helpful on Election Day.
Nope, did not miss any other communication. I’ve been looking out for any emails and this was the first call I received. She said they are behind in calling people. I’ve received nothing beyond an email of confirmation that my online application was received.
I didn’t have a need to be a poll worker. But that’s where it sounded like they needed help.
I will say the other state/national “vote” groups I’ve been working with have been EXCELLENT with communications and details. Really excellent.
@abasket , the short notice makes me wonder if some people who had previously said yes had changed their minds and bowed out. Two hour notice reminds me of substitute teaching!
Thank you and everyone else willing to work at the polls.
@dragonmom good point. We had that happen the week before our primary. Folks had agreed to work the polls, but had second thoughts. It happens.
I personally think that there is a lot of work to do and that what happened to @abasket is what she was told. That they are behind and that they called at the very last minute.
I think this election is different than any other in recent history. And that officials are overwhelmed and understaffed.
I also would have declined. It didn’t sound well planned.
The clerks used to be able to do a lot of training a few weeks in advance. Everything is changing so fast now that I think they waited as long as they could to hold trainings to make sure they are giving the most accurate information, but they could wait no longer.
PA’s changed Monday. TX is still in dispute. Iowa had to resend absentee ballots after a court ruling.
In Colorado not much has changed this year as we’ve been voting by mail for 7-8 years and in primaries and local elections before that. We’ve worked out the kinks.
We also allow the ballots to be opened and processed before election day so all they have to do is push a button and all will be counted (results can’t be released prior to polls closing).
It’s not true in every state. In my state, where pay is done by local town/city, one can opt out of being paid as I do.
@doschicos you are right. I should have put my state on that post.
The election process is defined by each state, and this includes compensation, hours polls are open, etc.
When in doubt, check the guidelines in your state.
It can even vary within a state as it does in mine when it comes to poll worker compensation and hours.
In my neighborhood we are doing letter writing to encourage people to vote.