Mar 9, 2024 By Mike Jones 5 min read

Elections directors in the tri-county region are reporting that their poll worker ranks are adequate for next month’s primary election, but they can “always” use more people to step up and help.

“Absolutely. We always need poll workers,” Washington County Elections Director Melanie Ostrander said. “We never turn anyone down.”

Each precinct typically has five workers and are each led by a judge of elections. So with 180 precincts in Washington County, Ostrander and the elections staff needs a small army to run the polls.

“In presidential elections, we do see an increase in people signing up to be poll workers,” Ostrander said. “I don’t know if it’s the national attention the elections get, but we do see more people signing up to be poll workers in presidential years.”

But that wasn’t the case four years ago when the COVID-19 pandemic was ripping through the country and prompted the postponement of Pennsylvania’s primary from its scheduled date in April. Ostrander and other elections directors struggled to fill spots due to people concerned about getting sick and others who weren’t available when the primary was temporarily moved to early June.

With a more normalized schedule for this primary election, which is scheduled for April 23, Ostrander said they’re ready for what’s ahead. But they could still use more people to help bolster their ranks at some of the busiest polling places.

The only requirements are that a poll worker must be a registered voter in the county where they want to work and they cannot be on the ballot.

Ostrander said they’ve also boosted the pay to match Allegheny County since many local residents saw commercials on television advertising those figures there.

“We’ve done some things this year to hopefully increase the response,” Ostrander said.

But besides the pay, it also can be a rewarding experience. Fayette County Elections Director MaryBeth Kuznik served as a poll worker for years in Westmoreland County before taking her current position.

“Speaking as a former poll worker, it’s a long day but it’s a fun day,” Kuznik said. “You see your neighbors. I love my job now, but I miss doing that. I loved being a poll worker.”

Both Washington and Fayette counties reach out to area high school to recruit students to work the polls. Students have to be at least 17 years old and they’re paid the same as poll workers, all of which Kuznik said gives them hands-on understanding of how the government works.

“They’ll learn a lot about how our elections function and could be helpful on a resume for college or a job,” Kuznik said, adding students need permission from a school administrator and a parent or guardian to work.

With 77 precincts in Fayette County, the elections staff needs plenty of people to work the primary and general elections this year.

“For this election, we’d like to have more, especially in the fall,” Kuznik said. “If we have well-staffed polls, it’ll make the lines shorter and make the voting smoother.”

As Kuznik fondly recalled her time working at the polls, she knows how it’s an especially important job for people who want to help their fellow citizens vote.

“Every county is always looking for poll workers,” Kuznik said. “We need people to step up. It’s important for our elections and democracy.”

While Kuznik has a wealth of experience working and running elections, this will be the first one for new Greene County Election Director Joe Lemley, who was hired in January.

Lemley said he’s pleased with the leadership and experience of many longtime poll workers in Greene County who are helping to make his job easier.

“To have a judge of elections come from a small precinct (and say), ‘I’ve been doing this job for years. Let me do my job.’ That makes me feel better,” Lemley said.

He said there is still room for first-time poll workers, especially in order to build a top-to-bottom roster that helps educate people on the process. Lemley, a former school administrator who coached cross-country and golf, likened it to having a deep bench where people can step up when needed.

“I keep telling the judges you have your top five (workers) but who can be your No. 6 or 7 in a pinch?” he said.

And most importantly, those new people will one day move into leadership positions themselves, so it’s critical they have a pipeline of workers ready to take the helm as judges of elections one day.

“That experience is so important,” Lemley said.

To become a poll worker, visit your county’s elections office or go online to vote.pa.gov to sign up. Paid training sessions will be held in the coming weeks to educate poll workers on the process.