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CHARLESTON -- West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner is making a plea to veterans and other residents to take part in "Elective Service" by serving as poll workers in the 2024 election.
Warner said the "Elective Service" program aims to make sure the state has enough people willing to be poll workers next year.
"Particularly after 2020, with the COVID scenario, we saw quite a few people who worked at the polls being more senior, and they were the ones who had the health concerns with COVID. We saw many of them call off from that duty at that time," Warner told The Inter-Mountain by phone Wednesday.
"We're just trying to get in front of it this year, for the 2024 election. We will have poll worker training in the spring and we just want to help people get into the process, fill out the forms, and let the county clerks know they're interested. That's why we're doing this 'Elective Service' program starting right now."
Warner said the new program will help county clerks recruit "the requisite number of poll workers."
"It takes five people for each precinct," he said. "We have 1,680 precincts in the state. That equals out to over 8,400 poll workers needed, spread throughout the state.
"If we have a handful of precincts without enough poll workers, that calls into question how the elections are run. Fortunately, we haven't had that situation since I've been secretary of state. We've always been able to meet the numbers, but it has been close in a couple of situations. That's why we're getting out in front."
The "Elective Service" emphasizes that being a poll worker is a public service.
"Right now, we've got this divided country," Warner said. "People are unsure about elections, they're unsure about elected officials. What better way than to stand in the gap, as those patriots did in our nation's past, over 200 years ago? Go work the polls, be a part of the process, don't sit back and complain and spread conspiracy theories. Be a part of the solution.
"That's what we're asking for, that's why we're making a plea to veterans to volunteer, re-up. You raised your hand once before to serve your country. Well, now, you can serve it in a different way, by maintaining integrity and security in our elections," said Warner, a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Army.
Many poll workers look forward to elections as a chance to meet new people and greet old friends.
"Many of them really do enjoy the experience," Warner said. "It brings you in touch with the people in your community, and you just feel good about yourself, having done civic service. You do get paid for it, but most people aren't doing it for the pay, they're doing it because they want to be part of the election process.
"They learn themselves about how the elections are run, and about the checks and balances, the chain of custody of the ballots, all those sorts of things, so they can have confidence themselves in the election, and we hope that they will spread that throughout their communities, with church, family, friends, let them know how secure the elections are here in West Virginia.
"Along with veterans, I would encourage any civic group, or church group, or political party, to encourage one another participate in the election process by being a poll worker, and to ensure the integrity of the process."
For a single statewide election, it costs $2.1 million to employ 8,400 poll workers, which is paid for by the counties.
Counties pay anywhere from $175 to $350 for both Election Day poll workers – depending on the specific job for the poll worker. Alternates will still get paid for training even if they are not called on Election Day.
On Election Days, poll workers must arrive by 5:45 a.m., and the polls close at 7:30 p.m.
Materials must be packed up and transported at the end of day, which could take up to an extra hour based on the distance from the central counting location.
Poll workers receive one day of training, which can take up to about two hours, with pay of $35 to $50.
The training may consist of training videos, PowerPoint presentations, and/or mock precinct training.
For 2024: WV Secretary of State's Office is emphasizing the importance of veterans volunteering to become poll workers.
Register to be a poll worker by going to your county clerk's office or by registering online at www.GoVoteWV.com.