Poll workers needed in the Valley, efforts to keep them safe
Mahoning Valley - As of September 4, more than 1,000 poll workers are still needed in the Mahoning Valley to run the general election in November. As for the entire state of Ohio, over 26,000 are needed, according to a new state poll worker tracker.
Although the Valley lacks workers, Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana Board of Elections officials said they still feel confident in their efforts to recruit workers, and they have plans in place to keep them safe on Election Day.
"We're at about 80% [of poll workers]," Ron Massullo, Deputy Director of Trumbull County Board of Elections, said, "We're very comfortable. We get to kick in our high school recruiting program, as well as we're working with the bar association and several other entities."
All three offices said overall efforts to keep poll workers safe in November include:
-Curbside voting
-Barriers
-Urging masks, required for workers
-Sanitation
-Extra PPE
-Disposable pens/sanitized stylists
Columbiana County Board of Elections said they are going to request the police department to be on call during Election Day as well. Mahoning County Board of Elections said they would have COVID-19 informed supervisors manning the polls, too.
"Every location has a different look to it," Massullo said. "So we're going to be protecting our poll workers in different ways in those locations."
Face masks are strongly recommended for voters. The Secretary of State's Office confirmed if someone doesn't have a mask on; it's their constitutional right to vote, but they'll be asked to do so curbside. If a voter refuses to vote curbside, they will still be able to vote without a mask.
"Of course we're looking out for our poll workers," he said, "Most of them have been with us for many years."
Many of those annual poll workers are elders, which is why Ohio Representative Thomas West of Canton (D-49) is asking the National Guard for their help.
"We are asking them to come out as civilians to man those polls," West said, "Let's fill in for what seniors are not able to do during COVID-19. Let us young people come together."
All three offices in the Valley said the high amount of absentee voters this year would likely make up for the lack of poll workers, but Massullo said no matter how people choose to vote, both ways are safe and secure.
"Early voting is a smart way to vote this time around," Massullo said, "The mail-in voting is going to basically defray for about 50% of our total vote in the county. It's going to make for a more comfortable experience when our voters do choose to go to the polls."
He said absentee votes (meaning any vote that is not done in-person on Election Day -- whether it's dropped-off to the Board of Elections office or mailed in) is immediately counted after they receive it.
Poll workers are trained and paid between $115-$150. Sign up to be a poll worker here.
To request a voter ballot to mail-in or drop-off at the elections office, call your county Board of Elections office.
Mahoning County Board of Elections: (330)-783-2474
Trumbull County Board of Elections: (330) 369-4050
Columbiana Board of Elections: (330) 424-1448
