Fairfax County Needs Election Officials!

Last week I had a chance to interview new Fairfax County registrar Cameron Quinn.  Cameron headed up the State Board of Elections when Jim Gilmore was Governor, and was just recently hired to take over as Fairfax registrar.

Fairfax is having a real issue recruiting people to work the polls this year inside and help run the elections.  If you can help out on election day please contact them (elect@fairfaxcounty.gov)!  Here's the follow up information I got from Cameron's office:

Fairfax County, the largest county in Virginia, is facing a significant shortage of Election Officers for the upcoming November 8, 2011 General and Special Election. Approximately 2,500 Election Officers are needed to serve in the County's 239 polling places. At this time, we are hundreds short of reaching our requirements.

Yes, it is a long day. However, many of our Election Officers have served for many years and enjoy the camaraderie and excitement of serving their communities while also ensuring the accuracy and integrity of our elections. We also encourage those with second languages to serve, Fairfax County has become very diverse and we have many opportunities for those who want to share their second languages.

Attached you will find a recruiting flyer, that we are currently using, that may provide more information. Recruits not only receive a two hour training class, but they also have access to training videos on our website that our Election Officers view frequently, as a refresher, in the comfort of their own homes.

The typical day includes arriving one hour before polls open to set up the voting machines, hang pertinent signage, ready the polling room etc. Usually there are at least two officers at the check in table, and a few officers to assist at the booths along with an officer or two to show the exit. A Chief Officer and an Assistant Chief are assigned to each precinct to assist and supervise the process, as well as handle any challenges that the day may provide. At closing, the Officers of Election assist with closing down the voting machines and tidying up the polling place. All Officers must remain at the polling place until the results have been tabulated and checked.

Comments

[kelley in virginia]

NLS: this is a great public service announcement. Many counties need this same help. If you are free on this Election Day & are willing to meet for the minimal training, please call your local registrar.

[change]

I have been through this process. It is one hell of a long day even if things go right. If the books don’t match and you are one vote off it increases the time. I remember it pushing 11pm before things got straight.

That said, this “job?” is very important to the process; you meet people from both sides and it builds camaraderie for truth and an understanding of how VA (or at least my polling place) tries to run fair and honest elections.

Sorta like “jury duty”… for most it is not a whole lot of fun, but it is a responsibility that not only educates, but is a necessary element in a free democracy.

[g-star pull]

Je suis en train de regarder « Les dossiers de téva » sur l’obésité, donc je me suis dis « pourquoi pas aller sur son blog ». Je m’appeller Lugdivine, j’ai 19 ans et je fais la guerre aux quelques kilos que j’ai en trop, 57 kilos pour 1m52 ça ne me convenait pas alors j’ai perdu 3 kilos parce que mon copain m’a quitté et je compte en perdre encore 5 pour être mieux dans mon corps.

[Del. Jim LeMunyon]

Good for you, Ben, for calling attention to this opportunity to serve.

[G.W.]

so ...are we getting any evaluation of the upcoming Senate races????

[SE VA MWC Alum]

Excellent points Ben, change, etc. All of the election officials deserve a big thank you.

Has anyone ever thought of dividing the day for the officials into two shifts to lighten their load? Perhaps this would increase the number of volunteers for the job? Would this be feasible?

[Sam]

SE VA MWC Alum - First, I will ditto your kudos to all for talking about this. It is definitely important work. Your comment, however, touches on a predictive problem. If breaking off into shifts increases volunteers, that's great. But if it doesn't, now we'd be even MORE understaffed, as the number of volunteers needed would double.... It's a good idea that's almost impossible to implement safely.

[GretchenLaskas]

Great post.

I think there are two reasons for this. First, it's demographics. As the Silent generation (those born before 1945) age, we are losing the last generation that truly had a "community for community's sake" mindset.

All of the generations that come after theirs have the more individualist streak. And thus, people who might have become poll workers now instead work as volunteers for their own political party. As GOTV mechanisms have become more and more sophisticated, it is now necessary for either political party to need one to two people working inside (to check books and monitor for problems) one to two people working outside (to offer literature and sign up interested voters) and a whole host of volunteers to work phone banks and man a small fleet of cars to take voters to the polls. And that isn't only in a big election, but now the norm for most (especially here in VA, where there is an election about SOMETHING every single year.)

And that isn't to say this isn't important work. It is, after all, the type of work I have chosen to do. But as someone who comes from three generations of former poll workers, my parents (Silents) look at me with some exasperation that I no longer continue the chain. After all, I'm working just as long and just as hard as they are, most election days, and I'm not even getting paid! :)

[change]

Gretch must have spent the night at La Quinta because her post "nailed it".. lol

[AppHawk from Fancy Gap]

I'm in North Carolina but follow VA political blogs and I have the privilege of serving as what we call a "Chief Judge" in this year's municipal elections meaning I'm the head kid in charge (I'm 28). It is a lot of hours, especially when there are few voters. But, having been through one already and preparing for another in November, I can say it was alot of fun with some great folks. I worked out of my home precinct but all the other ladies (old enough to all be my mom at least) lived there and I enjoyed watching them interact with all their neighbors and friends as they came in to vote. In the past I've worked at a precinct on my college campus and thats always fun too because of all the odd issues you encounter plus seeing all the young folks come vote.

In NC, we get paid, not much, but you can get $100-200 per election. If we didn't have that I have no doubt our current shortage (fairly small) would be greatly increased. Still, you guys should all do it regardless of your political affiliations and activities. Trust me, I'm only neutral for the 13-15 hours I'm there!

[Harry]

BOR-ing

[Lovettsville Lady]

Election officials in Virginia are also paid.

[l-arginine blood pressure]

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[shox pas cher]

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