Casting with Confidence: Confronting poll worker shortage and building assurance in election processes

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the essential function of many professions, from food production to supply chain management to education. As Election Day approached, the virus also sharpened focus on those who fill another essential role — poll workers.

Difficulty recruiting poll workers isn’t a new challenge. In 2016, the biennial Election Assistance Commission survey reported that nearly 65% of jurisdictions found poll worker recruitment “somewhat difficult” or “very difficult.” In 2020, risks associated with COVID-19 have exacerbated the shortage. In the runup to the November election, states took steps to solve the immediate poll worker shortage and looked ahead to longterm solutions.

According to Kentucky Assistant Secretary of State Jennifer Scutchfield, recruiting poll workers in the state has been an ongoing struggle due mainly to funding. The minimum pay for precinct election officers in Kentucky ($60 per day) has not been increased in about 25 years. In 2020, Scutchfield says, the challenges were further sharpened by the aging population of poll workers and an executive order passed by Gov. Andy Beshear allowing counties to reduce the number of polling places as a result of risk posed by COVID-19.

“We’re going to have more people that show up to vote, I believe, this year,” Scutchfield said during an interview in late summer. “If we don’t have sufficient workers and sufficient polling locations, you’re going to have a wait. Secretary [Michael] Adams has only been in office now nine months, but he knew going in that, even without the pandemic, poll workers would be something we needed to look at.”

Kentucky expanded poll worker recruitment efforts using an online form that sends poll worker applications to the relevant county clerk. The state also ramped up its messaging with a campaign called “SOS from your SOS.” Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams partnered with four craft breweries to create beer labels directing readers to the online poll worker application. Another new development allowed attorneys to receive 1.5 hours of continuing legal education for participating in poll worker training.

These initiatives met with some success, but Scutchfield says a long-term solution to the national poll worker shortage will depend on funding and support from legislatures, and that lessons learned during 2020 will have no staying power without further investment. She points to the state of Washington, which implemented statewide vote-by-mail in 2011, as an example of what’s required to make lasting change.

“Washington state has clean voter rolls, so they are able to mail out the application for the ballot to every voter,” Scutchfield said. “But [Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman] will tell you it has taken 10 years to ramp that up. It was not an overnight decision. So that ask we’re putting forward to our county clerks, our voting registrars — it’s enormous.”

In Michigan, Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum likewise identified poll worker recruitment as a challenge that long pre-dates the 2020 election. In Michigan, one challenge is finding partisan balance.

“Many do not want to be publicly associated with a political party, but in Michigan, it’s required,” Byrum said. “We need to have a balance of Democrats and Republicans. It’s been an issue for well over a decade. Finding willing, qualified individuals of both parties has been ongoing challenge.”

Recruitment efforts for the November election generated interest, and Byrum was cautiously optimistic about increased participation in the months before the election. But she reiterated that it’s a tough job, and people often don’t realize what will be required. And, as in many states, a significant number of poll workers are older adults, many of whom were expected to stay home this year.

Byrum said a long-term solution would be helped by funding — especially at the local level — and by making election days paid holidays. Most importantly, though, she called for trust between legislatures and election administrators.

“When election officials are asking for resources and legislation to improve our process, the legislators should trust those professional election administrators,” Byrum said. “We’re on the front lines and run across these issues first-hand. That’s a big issue, especially right now.”

Without the funding and personnel, Byrum says, results take longer.

“Our Michigan elections are fair and secure, and there are a lot of security checks, but as a result, it takes time for a ballot to be processed,” she said. “If we are not afforded sufficient resources and human capital, it’s going to take much longer to get results, and the more eyes on our election, the better.”

Better communication goes a long way, too. Byrum urges all state leaders to identify their election administrators, talk to them and learn more about how the election process works.

“The election administrators that I have met from around the U.S., and certainly in Michigan, are some of the hardest working, most dedicated individuals I have ever met,” Byrum said. “And they would welcome the opportunity to educate their legislators and other leaders about election administration.”

Building Bi-Partisan Election Confidence

Representing both major political parties, Scutchfield and Byrum agree that election administrators are subject to criticism from all sides — usually from individuals who don’t understand how the election process works. The solution? Encourage those with questions to get their information from the correct source.

“We deal with the naysayers that say it’s rigged, we have the people who say you’ve got outside influence,” Scutchfield said. “We’re getting hit every day with something we need to make sure is accurate and it’s done with integrity. If you have a question about elections, go to the election official. Don’t get your information from second-hand sources. Trust the election official only.”

Byrum reiterates the need to trust official sources and offers a challenge, as well.

“When people think our elections are rigged, I challenge them immediately to serve as a precinct inspector,” she said. “Because by serving as a precinct inspector, people start to get a real handle on everything that is done to make sure our elections are secure and safe. And if they don’t want to serve as a precinct inspector on election day, then by golly, they should serve as a recount worker. In Michigan, we have recounts, and they are hand recounts. That would afford people the opportunity to really understand how elections are run, and how I can sit here and tell you that I know the elections in Ingham County, certainly, but the elections in Michigan are absolutely safe and secure.”