PLACER COUNTY, Calif. — Inching closer to the March 5 primary, multiple counties are getting desperate, trying to fill election aide worker vacancies before Election Day.
Ballots are going into mailboxes this week and county officials are hard at work to make sure everyone's ballot is counted. In Placer County, 283,000 ballots have already been mailed. On Election Day, Placer County will have 29 regional voting centers with 10 aides at each location.
However, the county is having difficulty filling positions in Tahoe City, Kings Beach and Alta. All of those areas are harder to reach and most people there are temporary residents. In order to be fully staffed, the county needs about 50 more aides.
"It's something new for Placer County because we're transitioning to these voting centers instead of volunteering to come and help us out for one day. It's a longer term commitment, right? It's a lot harder to clear four or eleven days in your schedule," said Placer County Elections Manager Philip Cantri.
In Yolo County, officials believe one of the reasons for their staffing shortage is the pandemic, when people were isolating and social distancing. In order to be fully staffed this year, Yolo County will need 150 election aides. To try and meet that goal, the county is doing something it's never done before.
"Well, for the first time, we've hired a company to help us track down some election workers, so they're doing the recruitment this year. We've provided a list of folks who have come to us in the past, but we're trying something a little new, because we do need always help. It's always a scramble to get election workers," said Yolo County Registrar of Voters Jessie Salinas.
Yolo County said they have hired three staffing agencies to help.
Other counties, like San Joaquin, have tapped into local high schools for help. If you would like to help in Placer County, you can apply on the county's job portal.
