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As Election Nears, 18 Counties Still Short On Poll Workers

Eighteen counties in West Virginia still need more staff for their polling locations, with less than a month until the Nov. 5 general election.

According to the office of Secretary of State Mac Warner, Berkeley, Boone, Cabell, Fayette, Grant, Hampshire, Kanawha, Marion, Monroe, Nicholas, Ohio, Pleasants, Putnam, Randolph, Ritchie, Summers, Wayne and Wetzel counties are still actively seeking staff.

Local polling locations have struggled with worker recruitment and retention nationwide in recent years. Former workers have cited the COVID-19 pandemic, low pay and safety concerns in a tense political climate as reasons they did not return.

Warner’s office said it takes more than 8,000 paid poll workers to run an election statewide.

In West Virginia, poll workers are typically paid between $100 and $300 for working on Election Day, though the figure varies by county.

The Work Elections Project is a poll worker recruitment initiative led by a Washington, D.C. voting rights nonprofit called the Fair Elections Center. It compiles county-level poll worker pay information.

According to the project, poll workers in the counties denoted above can receive the following pay for working this year’s election:

County	Poll worker pay rate
Berkeley	$300 for completing training and working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Boone	$200 to $270 for working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., plus an additional $50 for completing training.
Cabell	$250 to $325 for completing training and working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Some positions also reimburse mileage.
Fayette	$175 for working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., plus an additional $50 for completing training.
Grant	$150 for completing training and working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Hampshire	Information not provided.*
Kanawha	$260 for completing training and working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Marion	$200 for completing training and working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Monroe	$150 for working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Nicholas	$225 for completing training and working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Ohio	$225 for completing training and working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Pleasants	$200 for working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., plus an additional $25 for completing training. Part-day shifts may also be offered. Additional pay is extended to poll workers in supervisory roles or those who drop off supplies at polling locations.
Putnam	$200 for working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., plus an additional $75 for completing training. Some positions reimburse mileage.
Randolph	$200 for working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ritchie	$200 to $250 for completing training and working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Summers	$150 for working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., plus an additional $50 for completing training.
Wayne	$200 to $275 for working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Some positions reimburse mileage.
Wetzel	$290 for working Election Day from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., plus an additional $10 for completing training. Part-day shifts may also be offered.

* Hampshire County’s poll worker pay information was not posted on the Work Elections Project website. A representative at Hampshire County Clerk Eric Strite’s office said Tuesday he was not immediately available for comment. He did not respond to an email requesting clarification on the county’s poll worker pay rate.

Table Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Residents still have time to register to work next month’s election. To apply to work as a poll worker, visit the secretary of state’s voter dashboard, GoVoteWV.com.

Poll Workers Needed In Lead Up To November Election

West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner has teamed up with the county clerks, the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission and other states for National Poll Worker Recruitment Day on Aug. 1.

The West Virginia Secretary of State is asking for volunteers heading into the 2024 General Election.

Secretary Mac Warner has teamed up with the county clerks, the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission and other states for National Poll Worker Recruitment Day on Aug. 1.

Having an adequate number of poll workers to staff polling places on and before Election Day can ensure voters receive the assistance they need at the polls. Currently there are 1,704 voting precincts throughout West Virginia, which requires more than 8,000 poll workers.

West Virginia law states that the county executive committee for each of the two major political parties may nominate one qualified person for each team of poll clerks for the election.

“Poll workers are critical to facilitating the election process and instilling confidence in voters,” Warner said. “To ensure that we have accessible, safe and accurate elections, we need to fully staff every polling place with trained poll workers.”

Specific duties vary by location, but election workers usually set up and prepare the polling location, welcome voters, verify voter registrations and issue ballots. Poll workers also help ensure voters understand the voting process by demonstrating how to use voting equipment and explaining voting procedures.

Poll workers in West Virginia must be registered voters. Individuals who volunteer to be poll workers in their home county are paid an amount set by the county commission for their services.

“Being a paid poll worker is a great way to participate in our democracy right here in West Virginia,” Warner said. “The most secure way to cast a confidential election ballot, free and clear of any undue influence or intimidation, is to do so at a polling place staffed by trained poll workers selected by the political parties. Ensuring there are enough poll workers to assist voters is always a priority for the Secretary of State’s Office and the county clerks.”

Registered West Virginia voters who would like to learn more about becoming a poll worker for the upcoming Nov. 5 General Election should complete the Poll Worker Application on or before Aug. 1.

For more information on elections in West Virginia, including voter registration and absentee ballots, contact your local county clerk or visit the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website at GoVoteWV.com.

W.Va. Needs Poll Workers For November 8th Election

Secretary of State Mac Warner said West Virginia has about 1750 election precincts requiring five poll workers each. That comes to about 9,000 poll workers needed statewide on November 8th.

Next Tuesday is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day and the need for workers extends to West Virginia.

Secretary of State Mac Warner said West Virginia has about 1750 election precincts requiring five poll workers each. That comes to about 9,000 poll workers needed statewide on November 8th.

Established in 2020 by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, National Poll Worker Recruitment Day is a day of action with the goal of encouraging potential poll workers to volunteer to work on Election Day. Some poll workers are also used for early in person voting.

In West Virginia, democrat and republican executive committees nominate poll workers. There are always representatives of both parties at each polling location. When nominated poll workers “call off” for any reason, county clerks’ offices must appoint alternates to fill the vacancies before election day. Warner said there are always vacancies.

“The best thing is to have those alternates already,” Warner said. “We had a situation a year or two ago where a woman delivered a baby the night before the election. That’s a pretty good reason to not show up to support the polls the next day.”

Poll workers get paid anywhere from $150 to $230 including training sessions. Warner said key reasons to volunteer include performing a civic duty and gaining confidence in a politically scrutinized election system.

“We have so much concern over the factions right now across the nation,” Warner said. “Be a poll worker and you’ll see the working on the inside – you’ll see the checks and balances in the system.”

Poll workers must be registered voters, 18 years old or above. To volunteer, go to your county clerk’s office or go online at the Secretary of State’s website.

All Registered West Virginia Voters Can Cast Absentee Ballots In Primary Election Due To COVID-19

All registered voters will receive an absentee ballot application for the May 12 primary, according to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office on Thursday.

Staff for Mac Warner said clerks throughout the state will mail roughly 1.2 million applications for absentee ballots by the week of April 6, to those already registered to vote.

There will still be in-person voting at the end of April and in May, despite a stay at home order from the governor on Monday, March 23.

But, due to that order and an earlier State of Emergency declaration, Warner says every registered voter in West Virginia can vote in the upcoming primary from home.

West Virginians have until April 21 to register to vote. According to Director of Communications Mike Queen, county clerks can mail a ballot up to 48 hours after an application is processed.

The secretary of state’s office will reimburse county clerks for the costs this will incur, using a combination of state funds and money from the federal Help America Vote Act.

Registered voters will have until May 6 to send their absentee ballot applications back to their county clerk’s office, either by mail, fax or scan-and-email. Queen said that includes taking a photo of the application from a cellular device and emailing the pictures to the county clerk.

Once an application is received and approved, clerks will mail voters an absentee ballot.

Voters must return absentee ballots to their county clerks with a postmark on or before May 12. Postage will be paid for on the ballots.

The last day to register to vote for primary elections is April 21. Early, in-person voting is still scheduled from April 29 to May 9. In-person voting is scheduled to take place on May 12.

Queen said Thursday the office doesn’t anticipate having to cancel or reschedule in-person options at this time, although he said county clerks are preparing to facilitate social distancing options.

“We are purchasing hand sanitizers and cleaning supplies,” Queen said. “We’re also taking precautions for the health and safety of social distancing, not only for the poll workers but for the voters as well.”

For the 9,000 poll workers who staff West Virginia’s 1,723 precincts, Queen said his office estimates roughly 1,000 to 2,000 volunteers are senior citizens, who are more susceptible to the coronavirus. The secretary of state’s office is encouraging more low-risk people between the ages of 18 and 40 to apply.

Emily Allen is a Report for America corps member.