Now that we are officially into 2024 and the primary election (which doubles as the final election for certain municipal and county offices) is less than six months away, it’s time to talk about the most pressing issue facing West Virginia elections: a lack of poll workers.
Prior to 2020, we all took poll workers for granted. No one really thought about it — there were just always people there, manning the signature books, printing the ballots and guiding voters to the voting machines. But if you stop and think about who those people were, you’re likely to recall that most of them were men and women of a certain age: Retirees were the backbone of the election workforce for a very long time.
And then COVID-19 hit, and its favorite prey were individuals over 60, especially those with pre-existing conditions. In light of the dangers of COVID, many of the older people who routinely staffed polling places (rightfully) decided to sit out. Unfortunately, younger generations didn’t step up to fill their places.
Then, post-November-2020-election happened: Poll workers across the country were badgered, battered, insulted, doxed and threatened by swarms of election deniers. The most notable of these incidents was, of course, Rudy Guiliani’s (and other Trump allies’) accusations against two Black female poll workers in Georgia. The mother-daughter pair testified to Congress how the false allegations against them ruined their lives and made them fear for their safety. More recently, they won a defamation lawsuit against Guiliani for his role in slandering them.
Fortunately, there have been no reports of such violence — physical or verbal — against poll workers in our area.
Between the dangers of COVID and far-right threats against poll workers, it’s no wonder so many people have been hesitant to volunteer. But it’s volunteers that we desperately need. Elections can’t happen without people to help administer them. And there is always a possibility that a lack of poll workers will cause one or more voting locations to be closed, making it harder for voters to cast their ballots.
Poll workers truly are the unsung heroes of our elections.
Working the polls can be an act of patriotic altruism — but the job also pays. Counties generally pay between $175 and $350 for Election Day, depending on specific roles. You even get paid $30-$50 for the roughly two-hour training. (Fair warning: Election Day is a long one — over 13 hours — but you can also volunteer to work early voting, which usually runs closer to a 9-5 schedule.)
There will soon be more information on how to become a poll worker on the Mon County Clerk’s website, monongaliacountyclerk.com. In the meantime, you can check out the Secretary of State’s site to see the requirements for becoming a poll worker and to register as an alternate in case a poll worker calls off. Go to apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/PollWorkers/Register
