Ohio County Officials Recruiting Young Poll Workers

Photo by Joselyn King

WHEELING -- Ohio County elections officials want young people to register to vote, but they really need them to come and be trained as poll workers.

County Administrator Randy Russell and Toni Chieffalo, coordinator of elections, met with senior government students at Wheeling Park High School Thursday to register to vote any who were eligible and not already filled out the application.

Tuesday marks the last day to register to vote in time for the Nov. 8 general election, and citizens older than age 18 or who turn age 18 before or on Election Day are eligible to vote.

One young man at WPHS raised his hand and explained he turned 18 on Nov. 8.

He was given a voting registration application to fill out and return by next Tuesday.

As many as 40 students, however, indicated they might be willing to work for the county on Election Day -- either as poll workers or simply to be available if there is a need for technical support at the polls, according to their teachers.

Russell told the students his first objective was to get them registered to vote.

"The second objective today is to recruit you," he continued. "We find that a lot of our poll workers are of the older population. You get the day off on Election Day because we use the schools as polling places. ... Most Americans have to work that day. Because they have to work that day we end up with mostly older, retired people."

The veteran poll workers were good with paper ballots, but aren't as comfortable with the electronic voting equipment, Russell said.

"What we would like to do is recruit as many of you as we can to become poll workers," he told them.

He acknowledged Election Day is a long one for poll workers, as they would be required to be at their assigned voting location by 5:30 a.m., and probably wouldn't leave until at least an hour after voting ends at 7:30 p.m.

The poll worker pay for Election Day in Ohio County is $175. In addition, prospective poll workers must attend a training class prior to working the polls, and they are paid $40 for that 90-minute session.

"You could earn $215 a month and a half before Christmas," Russell told the students.

If they aren't available to work the polls, he suggested they also might be interested in participating in one of the teams responsible for placing voting machines at the county's 37 voting precincts on the Monday prior to Election Day, and picking them up after the election is over on Tuesday night.

The pay for being on the delivery team is $100, Russell said.

Lastly, the county also is also in need of technology-minded "runners," Russell told the students. These people are asked to go to the precincts when voting machine issues occur, diagnose the problem and "preferably fix it," he said.

There is no set pay, and if someone can only work five to six hours on Election Day "we will pay you to be available," Russell explained.

After the discussion, Russell said the county would find a place for any of the young adults interested in working elections.

"Because our population is older, we need to engage younger people in the election process," he explained.

Among the students wanting to work Election Day was Abby Sheller.

"I would like to get the experience and expand my knowledge," she said. "I also want to be more available to help the community."

She didn't mention the money the job provides as an incentive.

"It's a factor, but I would just do it to help," Sheller said.

She also wasn't deterred by the thought of a long workday.

"I have worked long shifts at Old Navy," she said.

Government teachers Ryan Stanton and Rick Marsh offered the students extra credit for working at the polls. If they take a selfie of themselves at their polling location on Election Day - even if they aren't old enough to vote and are accompanying someone else - they will also get extra points on their next test.

"These 12th-grade students will graduate in a few months, and we want to make certain they have a sense of civic responsibility when they leave," Marsh said. "Voting is a civic responsibility."

Anyone wishing to work elections in Ohio County should contact the Ohio County Commission office at (304)-234-3750.