Pinellas County Seeks Poll Workers for Fall Elections Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark is looking for more poll workers for the August 24 Primary Election and the November 2 General Election. A countywide election requires about 2,600 poll workers, and openings are available throughout the county, especially for the General Election. Poll workers serve as the foundation of our representative democracy. They are civic-minded individuals who believe that to preserve the election process one must take the time to participate. What does it take to be a poll worker? Be a registered voter in Pinellas County. The voter registration deadline is July 26 for the Primary Election and October 4 for the General Election. Be able to read and write English. Attend the required poll worker classes, depending on the position assigned to you. There are several poll worker positions: Clerk - Oversees all operations at the polling place; has added responsibilities prior to Election Day, such as contacting all the workers in that precinct and picking up the supplies; sets up voting equipment; assists voters required to vote a provisional ballot; and has additional responsibilities after polls close. Assistant Clerk - Assists the precinct clerk with voter eligibility phone calls, paperwork, and other duties as specified by the clerk. Machine Manager - Assists in setting up voting equipment prior to election day; handles the technical support requirements of the voting equipment; assists voters; and has additional responsibilities after polls close. Ballot Distribution Manager - Responsible for auditing ballots; distributing ballots to voters; reconciling vote totals with the number of ballots distributed. Inspector - Determines voter eligibility and assists in the closing of the precinct. Precinct Deputy - Maintains order at the polling place; helps in the setup and closing of the precinct, designates the no political activity area, and ensures the polling place is ADA compliant. Poll worker training starts in July for the Primary Election, with three locations for your convenience. Class schedules vary, depending on the duty assigned. For instance, a clerk or assistant clerk is required to take a four-hour general class. Clerks and machine managers must take a 3½ -hour equipment class with extensive training about the voting machines. Clerks must also attend a one-hour class the day before the election to pick up their materials. Inspectors, ballot distribution managers and deputies are required to take a three-hour class in order to work on Election Day. Total pay for election work and classes ranges from $125 to $220, depending on the poll worker position. For more information, email pollworker@votepinellas.com, call (727) 464-6110, or visit www.votepinellas.com and click on Poll Worker Information.

Return to Home Page

Return to Current Edition

Contact us