I just got hired as a pollworker on Election Day!

[Zomby Woof]

:bounce:

I will also pick up extra cash delivering an early voting machine before then. You all damn well know I can be trusted with it, right? :D

They need workers, so they were very happy to take me in. I will be a director at the site I am assigned to in my city.

Hours will be 6:30 AM until 8:00 PM, with 1 hour breaks for lunch and dinner, with a few 15 minute breaks thrown in. Ain't serving democracy grand? :toast:

B-)

[LSK]

1. so what kind of things are you going to have to do?

I have been thinking about taking the plunge and doing this.

[Zomby Woof]

2. Making sure people sign in at the right table

Answering questions, and just generally keeping the flow going. Precinct tables are color-coded, so I will make sure I direct people to the right one, so they get the correct ballots and so forth.

Try it! If you have the means to take the day off, it's a good way to serve the community.

[jus_the_facts]

3. The process to be a poll worker in my parish.....

...first you have to fill out an application...then a panel reviews it and you have to be selected by a voting process of current poll workers and employees of the registrar's office....was it that involved to be one out there?! x(

[Zomby Woof]

4. I called an 800 number

I talked to a nice woman with the City of L.A., who made the arrangements, including my training session next Thursday, and where I will be assigned. She will mail me my packet to get me ready for training. She thanked me quite sincerely. It seems the need for workers outweighs any screening obligations. That, and I was coherent, articulate, and polite on the phone, which probably helped.

Very unbureaucratic and straightforward. Not bad for a big state, eh? :-)

[jus_the_facts]

5. Well you are coherent...articulate and polite on the phone...

....I can vouch for you there. :D

..incredible...it's almost like having to be elected to be one here. :nopity:

[nini]

6. sweet..

can't wait to hear the details of where etc....


:bounce:

[Zomby Woof]

7. Hehe

It's an easy-to-find location. :D :bounce:

[nini]

9. do they need more help?

:D

[Zomby Woof]

12. It sure seems like it!

She was very appreciative, and her comments seemed to imply they were shorthanded. Who knows? Can't hurt for you to ask, and with a paid day off, you could really make a bundle in one day. :bounce:

[Phillycat]

8. They are elected positions here in Philadelphia County

Three of them are elected to four-year terms - Judge of Election, Majority Inspector, and Minority Inspector. Then there are two appointed positions - Clerk and Machine Inspector. There are no volunteer positions whatsoever. Weird, huh? I found this out when I called to volunteer.


EDITED TO ADD: another interesting tidbit:

Does the election board have to be bipartisan?

No. Although the Election Code attempts to create a bipartisan board, this result is not mandated. Generally, the Judge of Election and Majority Inspector are from one party, and the Minority Inspector and Clerk are from the other party. (The Machine Inspector gives one side a three-to-two majority.) However, last minute vacancies often hinder the creation of a bipartisan board.

Especially taken in conjunction with this:

Often, Judges of Election, Majority Inspectors, and Minority Inspectors are NOT elected. Why? In some cases, no one ran for the position and in others, the person who was elected moved away or became ill on Election Day. If a vacancy occurs before Election Day, a Court of Common Pleas Judge should be informed so he or she can appoint someone else to fill the vacancy. However, this procedure is often ignored. Instead, shortly before each election, Committeepeople or ward leaders choose people to fill the positions on Election Day. This informal process works adequately in most divisions.

:scared:

[Zomby Woof]

13. Amazing

I fully expect local laws to vary, but the divergence between what you describe, how it's done here, and how others have described it in their home states is far greater than I expected. We're talking planetary differences.

If you're still interested in volunteering, maybe you could test just how "informal" those rules are. I think it's worth a try.

[texanwitch]

10. Good for you.

I am a precinct judge for my precinct and working early voting starting next week.

Most voters have no idea the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to hold an election.

I wish more democrats would work the polls in some way.:toast:

[Zomby Woof]

14. Excellent!

Best of luck in your precinct judge position! :toast:

And I agree - more Democrats = better polling places!

[buddhamama]

11. we're counting on you to single handedly

save democracy. :)

Congrats, ZW! :woohoo: And thank you for being involved. :yourock: :loveya:

[Zomby Woof]

15. I have a master plan

I wrote it in invisble ink on the back of an Olive Garden napkin. :D

:loveya: buddhamod!