It’s hard to imagine why it’s gotten harder for localities to recruit people to serve as election workers.
I mean, it’s not like we didn’t see people who didn’t like that their guy lost the last presidential election threaten to kill the people checking IDs, handing out ballots and reporting the numbers back to the central office at the end of the day.
We had us a National Poll Worker Recruitment Day this week. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is all-in on Donald Trump, the guy that all the threats to poll workers back in 2020 were about, put out a statement in support.
“I am asking every eligible voter in Virginia to consider serving their community as an officer of election. We are incredibly grateful for Virginia’s officers of election who staff polling places and check-in voters, but we need more officers,” Youngkin said. “As we approach a presidential election, please consider volunteering so we can ensure accurate and secure elections in the Commonwealth and in your community.”
According to information from the governor’s office, Virginia needs more than 20,000 officers of election to staff voting locations across the Commonwealth.
Those interested have to be qualified Virginia voters.
There is pay involved, and state law requires employers to allow anyone who serves as an officer of election to take leave on Election Day without using vacation time or being subject to disciplinary action.
Keep in mind, it’s a long day – the polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and you need to be there ahead of time, and hang around until the votes are counted.
And then, if Trump doesn’t win, there are threats, and you may have to put your family in a hotel for a few weeks until things calm down.
If you’ve read through this and still want to sign up, go ahead and fill out the online application.
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Chris Graham
