Poll workers pivotal for fall election

SANDUSKY — After a small rule change, Erie County officials found plenty of poll workers to assist them with this fall's election. It's a stark contrast from earlier this year, when officials encountered several challenges in signing up people, because of COVID-19 concerns, for overseeing March's primary. Their services, however, weren't needed, as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine prohibited in-person voting on Election Day. Though, as of today, he's allowing for the "traditional" democratic voting process to occur at precincts on Nov. 3 in Ohio's 88 counties. Here's what happened in Erie County, as explained by elections board director Lori Salyers, to ensure more-than-enough poll workers can oversee a fair voting process: The change: "One thing the board voted on for this election was permitting us to employ not only just Democrats and Republicans for the positions of signature judge, ballot judge and clerk but also individuals who are not affiliated with a particular party." The rules: "We must have a party-affiliated person to fill the position of voting location manager, and we cannot hire more than two unaffiliated persons per precinct. We need at least one Republican and one Democrat at each voting location." The main problem: "We try to fill all positions with party-affiliated workers, but it is not always possible, and the secretary of state's Office does permit this practice if the board so approves." The underlying reason: "This is such a large election. With a lot of passion from both sides involved, and the COVID-19-related issues, people feel strongly about voting in-person, so we have gotten many more volunteers from what the staff has told me in elections in the past and what I have seen as a difference from the primary election earlier this year." The pay: Poll workers receive "$110 for working the day. They receive various amounts for training depending on the job title. The more difficult the task, that poll worker receives slightly more money for training. We are paying a slightly higher fee for training, for this election only, due to extra instructions on how to properly clean equipment and setting up." The importance: "We could not put on in-person voting without them. They are the people on the frontlines of this election, making it possible for everyone's vote to be counted and their voice to be heard. They are vitally important to this part of the Democratic process of our country." There's still time for people to sign up as poll workers. In Erie County, they can call 419-627-7601. People across Ohio, meanwhile, can register at ohiosos.gov/elections/poll-workers/signup/. Register to vote Registered voters can still request and receive an absentee ballot to cast votes before Election Day. They can also vote during an early in-person period, which begins Oct. 6. People can visit boe.ohio.gov/comoh/Absentee_Request_11-A.pdf to view the absentee form. People will then need to print it, fill it out and then mail it to his/her local elections board office.