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St. Louis County seeks election poll workers

By Diane Plattner

St. Louis County Election Board officials are looking for election poll workers. These workers can earn extra income and gain satisfaction in helping the community, some current poll workers say.

Norman Gale, 81, of Ballwin, began working the polls a few years ago, when he had more time on his hands after becoming semi-retired.

“When you work all of your life, it’s boring to sit around and do nothing,” Gale said. “I’ve always tried to help people and working at the polls makes me feel I am helping the community.”

Gale, who already has worked his way up to the role of poll supervisor, said that working at the polls requires little time and is great for the elderly, retired, teachers or anyone who would like to contribute to the community.

“There is no tremendous ability required,” Gale said. “You’re not on your feet too much. And it’s only a few times a year.”

Gale said poll workers are expected to attend a short training prior to each election that covers procedures such as signing in and identifying voters, issuing ballots, activating and closing the electronic voting machines and collecting votes at the end of the day. They also learn special procedures, such as curb-side service to accommodate voters with disabilities, he said.

St. Louis County Election Board officials said they desperately need more poll workers for upcoming elections, particularly the Aug. 5 statewide primary election and the Nov. 4 presidential election.

“For the upcoming presidential election this year, we’ll need about 5,000 poll workers,” said Dick Bauer, assistant director of the County Election Board. “We now have about half that.”

Bauer said poll workers in any given year work up to four elections, with training of up to four hours offered at the Election Board’s Maplewood headquarters prior to each election. Poll workers for each election must report to the polls about 5 a.m., which is about an hour before the polls open, and work the polls until they close at 7 p.m.

“It’s a long day,” Bauer said. “There is a short lunch break but otherwise poll workers are on duty the whole time.”

For that time commitment, poll workers are compensated in the range of $130 to $185 per election, Bauer said.

He said officials try to accommodate any assignment requests to get poll workers closer to their homes, but that is not always possible.

“We try to get people closer to their home,” Bauer said. “But if push comes to shove, if there is an overabundance in one area, we may ask them to fill in other places to cover the polls.”

Bauer said the poll workers must be registered voters in St Louis County and willing to declare or represent a political party preference.

“That is because the whole system is based on checks and balances,” Bauer said.

While there are no age requirements other than being at least voting age, Bauer said Election Board officials welcome more young people to join current workers.

“We’d like to attract more young people,” Bauer said. “Older people have been carrying this load for a long time.”

Poll workers also may vote that day while they are working at the polls. However, they might consider voting absentee prior to the election.

Anyone interested in becoming a poll worker is asked to call the St. Louis County Election Board at (314) 615-1840 or (314) 615-1965.