To their credit, poll workers in Ohio managed to pull off an August election despite the shortened timeline and issues ranging from hastily switched polling locations to machine malfunctions. According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, those challenges did not turn into serious problems. But election watchers and the workers who held everything together have raised some alarms.

“It’s more indicative of an election that boards of elections were not fully prepared for, and that poll workers were not adequately trained for,” Nazek Hapasha, policy affairs manager for the League of Women Voters of Ohio, said.

As boards of elections across Ohio work to ensure suitable, accessible polling locations are designated for all voters, they will also have a job on their hands recruiting and training the next batch of poll workers. Many of those who have steadfastly served this state for decades are now reaching the point where it is not so easy to handle poll worker duties. We need to have the next generation ready.