Consider becoming a Poll Worker
For those of us gripped by a concern that Democracy is fragile and at risk here in the US here is a path towards restoring faith in government of the people and by the people. We Want You…to be a Poll Worker comes from the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law, a prominent voice on Campaign and election reform.
In the long term, we need to figure out a way to recruit good poll workers. Current innovations include having high school students, many of whom would ordinarily be too young to serve as poll workers, staff the polls as part of their civics classes. We’d like to see other innovations: states could consider exempting poll workers from jury service for some period of time-surely many of you would rather serve one day than possibly get put on a weeks-long trial. Another innovation might be offering continuing legal education (CLE) credit for service at the polls. (Lawyers usually need to take some sort of continuing education classes to maintain their bar license, but often alternative activities such as judging moot courts or writing articles will count for credit as well.) Like jury service, CLE requirements can be a hassle to fulfill, and working the polls might be a nice alternative. In the credit framework, colleges and universities could also offer credit for work at the polls, either course credit or towards community service requirements.
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5 Responses to “Consider becoming a Poll Worker”
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Considering how the U.S. is becoming a one party state, how few races are competative, and how many races in the U.S. are uncontested, it is hard to argue that elections are important. There will soon come a time that a majority of incumbents in the U.S. will be running unopposed for office. When that happens it will be hard to call the U.S. a Democratic Republic.
With another thought, the most important voting most Americans do these days is with their feet. Look at how many former Californians live in other states. Look at now many people have moved from Mass. to N.H. Voting in Mass. had no affect on the state government in Mass. The only way that people could lower their taxes was to move.
Paul,
A great “put up or shut up” idea.
I've been a poll worker ever since I stopped working, but health problems will keep me house bound this year.
From what I've seen, good, well-trained poll workers are an absolute necessity if our voting system is to stay above the 'inorrigible' line.
My own district has good leadership for now, but that's not true of some neighboring districts, where voting can become chaotic.
It really is high time that we took some responsibilities to heart, along iwth our rights.
I have been looking into this, inspired in large measure by Paul's willingness to take part in the process.