Compassion for KC Elections Poll Workers

[Diane]

ever thought about working the polls on election day? I have, and old school, I still take my absentee ballot to drop at my polling place; so I saw all the notices re polling place workers needed, and after calling 2 weeks ago (no response) and applying online last week, finally got frantic calls from KC Elections last night (after they were closed so no way to contact anyone) and today they were calling/emailing me like crazy, here’s the jist

yes I could still work at Alki Community Center on election day; great, sounds fun to me

here’s the catch; these poll workers work from 6am to 10pm; that’s 16 hrs, for $125; by my calculation that’s less than min wage; ok, I’d still do it

but here’s the big catch that they did not inform me until 10 mins on the phone setting up all the arrangements for the day; prior to election day, poll workers have to go all the way to Renton ($10 gas) for couple hours training on Monday, in order to work that 16 hr day on Tuesday

no wonder they’re still trying to find poll workers; this is ridiculous

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[charlabob]

Diane, it is ridiculous — elections just moved to their permanent building in Renton — training used to be at an old Boeing building (the one where the Green River Killer was questioned) — more convenient and on bus line.

Last time I did it (two years ago) 11 people voted in 16 hours. My biggest problem was boredom, since the lead at the poll insisted we not read…turns out she was an anomaly, but that metal folding chair got awfully hard after hour 4. :-)

I suspect the pay was geared to little old ladies and gentlemen who thought of it, primarily, as public service and a cool way to see all their neighbors and make a few extra $s.

Since KC is scheduled to go all mail, with a few drop-off locations, they won’t need many poll workers starting in February — so they probably won’t change now.

I hope you still think about doing it — at this point, it’s your chance to be part of history.

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[JenV]

I for one am sad they are going to all mail in voting. Ever since my first vote in ’92, I have always loved going to the polls in person and saying hi to everyone there. I always assumed they were unpaid volunteers…..now that I know how little they are paid, that seems kinda true!

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[add]

I will miss going to the polls, too. I’ve voted absentee the last couple of elections due to work travel schedule, but I always get a little surge of civic pride when I actually go to a polling place. I enjoyed bringing my kids, too – helps them to really “see” the democractic process.

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