The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Dec. 26, 2023
(Rebroadcast of Oct. 20, 2023)
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
As states, counties and municipalities prepare for elections in November and next year’s Presidential race, reports have surfaced of short-term poll workers shortages in Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Texas and several other states.
The election system in most precincts around the U.S. relies on older volunteers and stipend workers who have flexibility of time to help out. Many experienced poll workers stepped back during the pandemic, citing health concerns, and extraordinarily low unemployment rates make it harder to recruit short term workers.
Fear is also a factor. In an April 2023 survey by the Brennan Center for Justice, 51% of local election officials also said they were somewhat concerned or very concerned about threats, harassment, and intimidation. Twenty-one percent of local election officials who started after 2020, say they are very or somewhat unlikely to serve in the 2024 cycle.
To counteract this loss, a coalition of veteran’s organizations created Vet the Vote to mobilize retired veterans to assist as poll workers. Another group of media companies, businesses, democracy groups, and advocacy organizations launched Power the Polls in 2020, recruiting 275,000 poll workers for the 2022 midterms. In August, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt urged 17-year-olds to serve as poll workers this fall.
If you can serve your community as a poll worker, contact your local election office, or visit AmericanDemocracyMinute.org to find out more. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Kentucky Lantern – Across Kentucky, election workers needed ahead of general election
WISH-TV – Some counties short hundreds of poll workers before Election Day
Texas Tribune/Votebeat – Smaller Texas counties could face a poll worker shortage due to new state requirements
USA Today – Need extra money? Poll workers are in demand and getting a pay raise before the 2024 election.
CBS2 Iowa – Iowa still needs 10,000+ poll workers for upcoming election
Brennan Center for Justice – Local Election Officials Survey — April 2023
Pennsylvania Dept. of State – Shapiro Administration Encourages Voters, 17-Year-Old High School Students To Sign Up Today To Be Poll Workers In November Election
Vet the Vote – A national campaign to recruit veterans and military family members to become the next generation of poll workers
Power the Polls – HELP STAFF YOUR LOCAL POLLING PLACE
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Become a Poll Worker
Groups Taking Action:
Power the Polls, Vet the Vote, Vote411, League of Women Voters US
Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Want ADM sent to your email? Sign up here!
#Democracy #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ProtectPollWorkers