Wayne Board of Elections in need of poll workers
The Wayne County Board of Elections is currently in need of additional volunteers ahead of the May 6 election.
File
Election operations managers around the state are required to recruit enough volunteers to staff the precincts for elections. According to Wayne County local managers Meredith Holder and Kim Wilson, the Wayne County Board of Elections is currently in need of volunteers ahead of the May 6 election.
A minimum of 32 more workers are needed to staff Wayne County precincts. This number is a bare minimum and assumes everyone who needs training gets it completed in time and that no one calls off. It takes a minimum of 268 volunteers for each Election Day.
Wilson said, “Several workers have retired since the November General Election, and we need people to step up and serve in those positions.”
For individuals who have trained to work the polls in the past three years, no new training is needed. Just sign up. New workers attend a three-hour training class. Currently, classes are scheduled for March 24 at 5 p.m. and March 25 at 9:30 a.m. at the board of elections office. Anyone interested in working who cannot attend is invited to reach out and discuss the option of adding an additional class.
Although poll workers are community volunteers, there is pay for both the training and the day of the election. A poll worker is paid $123 for working on Election Day. For attending a training class, the payment is an additional $30.
Poll workers have to be registered voters, and no political party affiliation is required. Seventeen-year-olds may all work the polls. Poll workers work about an hour the afternoon or evening before Election Day to set up their polling location. On Election Day the hours are 5 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. or later, depending on how long it takes to pack up. There is no option for partial shifts.
Holder said, “Accommodations can be made for those who have limitations with lifting or mobility.”
Why step up to volunteer?
“Local elections are important because everything on the ballot directly affects our individual communities,” Wilson said. “If no one volunteered, there would not be any elections.”
“A lot of poll workers enjoy helping their neighbors and friends while working on Election Day,” Holder said. “Many also appreciate the opportunity to be a part of history by implementing elections. Some of our volunteers like to meet new people and have developed lasting friendships with other volunteers.”
Additionally, she said working this year’s elections is important practice for those who wish to volunteer for the 2026 midterm elections next year.
Volunteers may call the board of elections at 330-287-5480 or email wayne@ohiosos.gov to sign up or for more information.
