NORFOLK
Electoral boards in Virginia are scrambling to fill poll worker positions for Nov. 4 - especially in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, judged "hot spots" where the number of voters could overwhelm the number of election workers.
Those are the folks who find your name in the big printout book, make sure you're in the right place and give you technical instructions on how to vote.
Voters' high interest in a historic presidential election has ratcheted up statewide officer recruiting efforts.
In Virginia Beach, Registrar Edith Harrington said the city needs between 1,100 and 1,200 poll workers - hundreds more than the previous record of 800.
"This is the backbone of our democracy," she said. "It's a long day, and they work very hard. The more people we have, the smoother things go."
About 170 more people are needed, she said.
The Virginia Beach Election Board is bracing for a record turnout. The city is voting for City Council and School Board members in this election, as well as for president and Senate.
"People are really interested in this election and want to work it," Harrington said. "We will place everyone who qualifies."
In Norfolk, about 145 more workers are needed.
"It's tight," Norfolk Registrar Elisa Long said. "We're still down from where we would like to be."
She said she hopes to recruit and train about 700 officers for about 600 slots; additional workers are trained in case there are last-minute no-shows, she said.
"It's very fluid," she said. "You can have every spot filled today, and tomorrow it's a different story. You need a buffer."
Boards of Elections in Hampton Roads have been recruiting through civic leagues, churches, parent teacher associations, school groups, libraries and through announcements online and on public access station Channel 48.
"We're getting a wide variety of people," Long said. "The base is getting older, and we need new blood."
Statewide, the average age of election officers is in the mid-60s.
This will be Long's fifth presidential election, and she expects one of the higher turnouts.
"There's a lot of interest, and we hope that translates into people wanting to serve," she said. "Without them, it doesn't work."
In Portsmouth, the board could use about 75 more poll workers, Registrar Deloris Overton Short said. In Suffolk last week, the board needed about 84 more people, Registrar Sharon Thornhill said.
Chesapeake is in good shape, according to Registrar Ginny Garrett. About 600 people have signed up for about 500 slots.
But statewide, the shortage is severe, according to Nancy Rodrigues, Virginia's chief election officer.
The state needed about 2,000 more officers as of last week, Rodrigues said, with a goal of 10,000. The State Board of Elections has launched the "Ensure the Vote" campaign, including advertising and corporate partners, to help the cause.
For more information, go to www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Officers/.
Jim Washington, (757) 446-2536, jim.washington@pilotonline.com
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Long Day for Poll Volunteers
I've never worked at the polls but friends who have said it is a long, hard day that may last 12 to 14 hours. Very obviously, more volunteers are needed so the day can be broken up into reasonable shifts. They must be trained ahead of time and then show up before the polls open in the morning and stay until the polls close at night. Young people don't like working for that long, but typically, many volunteers are senior citizens who have the time to devote. This is not hard labor, but working all that time is daunting for many. I believe this long schedule prevents many from volunteering. If these conditions have changed so it's not this difficult, then the word needs to be put out so more people aren't afraid to sign up. Those who do help must be commended for both their community service and their stamina!
Volunteer to be a registrar and stop complaining
When one approaches the voting area, have personal ID out and ready and know who you will be voting for before entering the voting area, this will speed the process up, also take into account the disabled and elderly they don't mean to be slow, they just are,they should qualify for absentee ballots so they are not an issue election day. Last week when this story was in the Daily Press.com they provided a link to the registrar's web site so readers could sign up to be a voter registrar, lot's of responses because of the ease provided by the daily press, so hit google, search, virginia voter registrar and viola, sign up to help move the lines faster and more efficiently and stop complaining, Voter's, bring a book, an iPod/Walkman a portable chair, a parasol to block the hot sun/pouring rain, etc. be smart, make sure you are at the corect polling location,you will be amazed how confused so many are and
I find
it sad that folks don't vote in these numbers ALL THE TIME. After the sacrifices made to ensure this constitutional right, people only show up when the circus is in town(if you get my drift). Folks want to be a part of history this time around. Guess what? If you would have participated in the other elections, maybe history would have been made years ago and we could have avoided all this is wrong w/this country today.
HERE'S TO VOTING EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT THE POPULAR THING TO DO!
Norfolk lost workers because
Norfolk lost workers because of some of the people incharge of location. They are very terrirorial, and don't really like new faces. Some of the people who have been working these polls for a long period are the ones who need to be replace, and bring in new volunteers. Volumteers are out there, but the word is out around Norfolk on how it really works.
Too Slow at the Polls
I am glad the Va. Beach voter registrar is trying to hire additional paid workers. The last presidential election was ridiculously slow to cast a vote. Lines were out to the parking lot. Once I made it to the table to get my ballot, I found the workers were slow and not aware or caring of long lines nor seemed to want to speed things up. It takes too long to verify the person requesting a ballot. Please assign the faster people to work the tables. I am looking forward to voting in November. I do not want to spend one to two hours in line at my voting precint. Please make the process work faster and assign the right people to get the job done for us voters.