Last week, Preston County Clerk Linda Huggins approached the county commission about giving poll workers a raise. Currently, poll workers in Preston County make $150 every day they work. Huggins’ proposed pay bump would bring it to $175 a day, plus $25 for the training session. (In Monongalia County, poll workers can earn $272 for working Election Day.)
Preston County Commission is expected to take the matter up at its meeting tomorrow. We hope the commission can find the funds to approve Huggins’ request.
Poll worker is an important job, and people who fulfill the role deserve to be compensated accordingly. When there aren’t enough poll workers, voting sites can be consolidated, but that usually means someone has to travel farther out of their way to cast a ballot. Voting should be as easy and accessible as possible — and poll workers are a key part of making that happen. While election sites are traditionally staffed by retirees, we need younger folks to step up, too.
Preston County should offer greater compensation for the service, and anyone who can should volunteer to be a poll worker this year.
