What It’s Like Being a Poll Worker
Jessica Adkins, online editor
The idea of waking up before the sun comes up may not sound appealing to some. However, that is exactly how the day starts for a Virginia election day poll worker. After rolling out of bed and getting ready to take on the 14-18 hour shift that lies ahead, it was time to go to the designated precinct. A precinct is also described as a person’s designated polling place. For some people in Fluvanna County, it is the Palmyra firehouse off of Rt. 15. After arriving to the designated precinct, poll workers are encouraged to start a pot of coffee for those who like to drink it.
The doors and poll books open at 6 a.m. sharp. The poll books are a series of computers throughout a county that connect to each other to keep track of who has voted and who has not voted. As the early voters start to file into the cold building, they are met by the greeter who controls the line. Since there were only three poll books at Palmyra’s precinct, only three people were allowed at the table at a time.
When the voters approach the check-in table, they are asked to show a valid photo ID. In the state of Virginia, even if a voter has a voter registration card, they must also present valid ID. Some examples of a valid ID include, a Virginia driver’s license, passport, or an employee ID card. After the voter provides proper identification , it is the poll book worker’s job to check in the person and give them a receipt to take to the ballot table.
The ballot table workers then provide an empty ballot sheet to the voter. Upon doing so, the worker at the ballot table should also inform the voter on how to properly fill out the ballot sheet.
The ballot table worker then tells the voter to proceed to the voting table. This is a table that is set up with dividers that allows voters to vote without feeling like they are being watched by others.
After voting, the voter is met, they are met by a poll worker who tells them when to place their ballot into the ballot reader. When the voter casts their ballot in the ballot reader and start to exit the building they are met by the exit control person who hands them an “I Voted” sticker and tells them to have a nice day.
According to Frances Schutz, the chief of the Palmyra precinct, “The person who hands out the sticker has the most important job because it is up to them to make sure no ballots leave this building.”
At the end of the day, there is about another hour and a half in which poll workers must stay to make sure that all paperwork that needs to be filled out is signed.
After all paperwork is signed, poll workers then need to break down the set up, clean up the kitchen, and make sure that everything is just as it was when they arrived.
For information about registering to become a paid poll worker in an upcoming election, please visit your local county’s registrar for information on training sessions and important dates.
