Provided by the County of Bucks:
election 2018The Bucks County Board of Elections is seeking more than a few good men and women to work the polls on Tuesday, November 6, the next general election. A full complement of poll workers – election judges, machine inspectors, clerks and majority and minority party inspectors – is the unsung engine that helps run a smooth election. Lines become shorter, questions get answered, and bipartisan oversight helps reduce complaints and boost public confidence in the results.
Across Bucks County’s 304 voting districts, full staffing amounts to roughly 2,000 paid citizens working full- or half-day shifts. The county currently has about 1,800 workers signed on for Nov. 6, according to Katie M. Pliszka, assistant director of the Board of Elections. The need for more poll workers is especially pronounced in, but not limited to, Bristol, Falls, Newtown and Upper Southampton townships, Pliszka said. She asked that anyone interested in working the polls contact her at kmpliszka@buckscounty.org.
Full staffing appears to be especially vital in the current election cycle. Unlike previous off-year elections, when voter turnout percentages have struggled to reach double-digits, a turnout of at least 50 percent of all registered voters is projected, thanks to this year’s energized political climate. Each district must have a Judge of Elections, Majority Inspector, Minority Inspector, Clerk and Machine Inspector. The allotment of machine inspectors
depends upon the number of voting machines present, with each district receiving one fewer inspector than the total number of machines, Pliszka said.
Election judges receive $135 for working 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., while the other workers earn $105 for their all-day duties. Only clerks and machine inspectors have the option of working half-day shifts – 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Responsibilities of the workers include opening and preparing the polling place, processing voters and providing voter assistance, closing the polling place, and assisting with ballot tabulation. In addition, Election Day constables appointed by each district’s elected constable are paid $95 for the day.
“Becoming a poll worker provides you with an opportunity to serve the public and ensure that fellow voters are confident and comfortable when voting on Election Day,” Pliszka said. “You will experience hands-on involvement with the democratic process, assist members of the community and serve as role models.”
