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WHEELING -- Local West Virginia counties say they mostly have enough poll workers for the May 10 primary election, but they can always use a few extra.
Those interested in being alternate poll workers still must be trained to work the polls before the election. Election officials can be reached in Ohio County at 304-234-3750; in Marshall County, 304-845-1220; in Hancock County, 304-564-3311; in Brooke County, ,304-737-3661; in Wetzel County, 304-455-8224; and in Tyler County, 304-758-2102.
Poll workers usually start on Election Day at 5:30 a.m. -- an hour before the polls open. Most often they work until about 8:30 p.m. -- an hour after the polls close.
Ohio County has 37 voting precincts each with a need for five poll workers -- including at least two from each party, explained Toni Chieffalo, county coordinator of elections.
There will be 185 poll workers called to work on Election Day, and they will be paid a base rate of $185 for their efforts.
"I think I am OK this year, but will have a better idea by next Friday," Chieffalo said. "They have until this Friday, April 8, to send in their response and we will start to call people Monday and Tuesday if we don't hear from them."
Marshall County has 35 precincts, and will hire at least four poll workers for each precinct. Larger precincts can have as many as seven poll workers, according to elections clerk Denise Doyle.
She said there is a need for two Democrat poll workers to work at Precinct 22 at Hilltop Elementary School, but all other poll workers slots are filled on Election Day.
Marshall County poll workers are paid $175 for working Election Day, according to Doyle.
"As of right now, it looks like we won't (need to hire more poll workers) - but that changes on a daily basis," Hancock County elections clerk Barb Ross said. "We will always need some alternates. I tell people to go ahead and call me if they want to be a poll worker, and I will keep their name on file."
Hancock County hires 120 poll workers for Election Day, with each being paid a base rate of $180 for working the day.
Brooke County elections officials are still determining if and how many poll workers they will need to hire for Election Day, according to elections clerk Sarah DeLong. Brooke County's poll workers recently got a raise to at least $230 for working the day, she said. The county has 19 precincts, and will hire about 100 poll workers.
Tyler and Wetzel counties also reported no immediate need to hire poll workers, but they do want alternate poll workers trained and ready if needed.
In an effort to attract and retain poll workers, Wetzel County pays its poll workers more than do other counties in the Northern Panhandle and most counties in West Virginia. Poll workers earn $300 when working Election Day in Wetzel County.
"We pay a lot more than most," said registration clerk Ruth Fluharty.
In Tyler County, there are just 10 voting precincts, and 57 are needed on Election Day, according to elections clerk Kim Loudin.
The Election Day pay rate there is $175.
In addition to what they earn for working at the polls, poll workers also are paid extra for attending mandatory training classes, and for driving in voting cards from the voting machines and other materials on election night.