PLACER COUNTY, Calif. — California's primary election is less than a month away and some Northern California counties are scrambling to find poll workers. In fact, election officials in Placer County say they have never been this short.
According to Ryan Ronco, with the Placer County registrar of voters, the Placer County Elections Office is still 400-500 poll workers short. As of early February, there is an “urgent” need of poll workers in Rocklin, Roseville, Granite Bay, and North Lake Tahoe, Ronco said.
Staffing the county’s polling sites each election takes more than 1,500 poll workers.
“At this time during other elections, the county was working on finding ‘fill-in’ workers, but this year we are still looking for ‘main-body’ workers,” Ronco told ABC10.
There are several reasons for the shortage this election season.
“Part of it is poll workers are simply not returning for whatever reason,” he said.
The other factor, Ronco added, is the passage of the Voter’s Choice Act. The law, which passed in 2016, makes voting more convenient and accessible and allows poll workers to work at a certain voting center days before the election.
"That means voting centers in counties like Sacramento, Nevada, and El Dorado are becoming more popular,” he described.
Impacts of the dramatic shortage in poll workers in the county could be felt on Super Tuesday, according to Ronco.
“If we don’t get more workers, we are covered, but we will be forced to have three workers at the polling sites and that will result in long lines, confusion, and longer wait times,” he said. “That’s the worst-case scenario, but of course that’s not what we want.”
That’s why the county is calling on people to sign-up and be part of the “backbone of the political process,” Ronco said.
There are a few requirements, such as being at least 18-years-old (unless participating in the student poll worker program), being registered to vote in California or a permanent legal resident of the United States, and having your own method of transportation. Additionally, workers must be able to work from 6 a.m. to around 9 p.m. on the day of the election (March 3).
Workers get paid for training and can make $100 to $160 that day.
“Responsibilities include opening and closing polling sites, verifying voter names and issuing and collecting ballots,” Ronco said.
If you’re interested you can apply online or call the Elections Office at 530-886-5650.
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