By 1812Blockhouse
The Richland County Board of Elections is putting out a call for additional Precinct Election Officials, commonly known as poll workers, for the upcoming General Election on November 7. The board has recognized the need for more hands on deck to ensure a smooth and efficient voting process for all residents.
Training Session Details
To prepare new recruits, a special training class has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 17, at 6 pm. The venue for this important orientation is the Longview Center, located at 1495 W. Longview Ave. The class will be held in the upper-level classroom. For those entering through the front entrance from the main parking area, the classroom can be found to the right, just past the elevators.
The class aims to provide an in-depth overview of the electoral process and is expected to last approximately two hours. A key part of the training will be a brief presentation demonstrating how to set up the voting equipment. As an added incentive, attendees will receive a $30 bonus, which will be included in their check for working the polls.
Roles and Responsibilities
Poll workers are assigned various roles based on their experience and proximity to the polling location. Each polling precinct is staffed by a Precinct Election Official-Presiding Judge (PEO-PJ), who acts as the lead poll worker. They are assisted by a Precinct Election Official-Presiding Assistant (PEO-PA) and two Precinct Election Officials-Clerks (PEO-Clerk).
For larger vote centers that serve multiple precincts, a Voting Location Manager (VLM) is appointed to oversee the entire operation. Typically, more experienced workers are assigned the roles of VLM or PJ. It’s worth noting that an equal number of poll workers from each political party must be assigned to each precinct.
Compensation and Contact Information
Poll workers are compensated for their time and effort. VLMs receive $190, Presiding Judges get $180, Presiding Assistants earn $155, and Clerks are paid $145. These amounts are in addition to the training compensation, and no taxes or other deductions are taken out. For more information, interested individuals can contact the board at 419-774-5530.
