Warren County Board of Elections seeks poll workers
January 25 is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day
WARREN COUNTY, NY -- Tuesday, January 25th is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, and Warren County Board of Elections is actively working to fill open poll worker positions as the spring primary and the remainder of election season approach.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a need for more poll workers, as many poll workers have historically been retirees or older citizens who were hesitant to work in public during the health emergency. In New York State, 55 percent of all poll workers are over the age of 60, making them potentially vulnerable to complications if they contract COVID-19.
“Poll workers provide a critical service to New Yorkers by ensuring elections are open and accessible to all voters. There is a shortage of workers on the local, state and national level, and we can use help in Warren County to make sure everyone can exercise their right to vote,” said Beth McLaughlin, Warren County Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner.
“By signing up to be a poll worker, you can ‘Help New York Vote’ and be rewarded for performing your civic role to help our elections run fairly and smoothly,” said William VanNess, Warren County Board of Elections Republican Commissioner. “We are encouraging voters of all ages to step up and volunteer to serve as a poll worker in our primary and general elections.”
What does a poll worker do?
Poll workers are paid to prepare polling places for voting, set up voting equipment, sign-in and process voters, enforce social distancing, demonstrate voting procedures, sanitize voting equipment, assist voters, close the polling place, and canvass and report election results.
To be eligible in New York, you must be a New York State registered voter. If you are 17 years old, you may be eligible if your school district participates in a program under New York State Education Law Section. You will be assigned within the county where you live. If you live in New York City, you will be assigned within the five boroughs.
Poll Workers get paid for training and each election day they work. Applying is simple; New York residents who live outside New York City can fill out the form found here: www.elections.ny.gov/BecomePollworker.html.
Those who are interested in learning more about a poll worker position in Warren County can call Warren County Board of Elections at 518-761-6456, or stop by the office at the Warren County Human Services Building, 1340 Route 9, Queensbury.
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