BY JENNIFER HALPIN
VIRGINIA BEACH — Serving as an election official, sometimes better known as a poll worker, is an under-appreciated but crucial role in our election process.
The Virginia Beach Office of Voter Registration and Elections has 13 staff members who run the day-to-day operations, but an election – be it a presidential election, general election or a primary – requires hundreds of individuals working behind the scenes to make it happen.
And that’s where you can play a role.
We need people to come help our election process this year.
In Virginia Beach, it takes between 1,400 to 1,500 people to staff the 100 precincts that make up our voting area. As of this writing, we only have 1,159 people available to serve as election officials.
These dedicated citizens show up and make sure our elections are run efficiently, professionally and securely so that voters can show up, cast their vote and go about their day.
I befriended a number of other people serving in that role during the two years that I worked as an election official myself. Since then, I have joined our voter registration and elections office, and I now oversee other election officials.
Some people serve as election officials as a civic duty – and many of them keep on doing it. Our longest-serving election official has been with us for 52 years.
Some are curious about how elections work behind the scenes, and others were frankly there just to make a little extra cash. Election officials earn $162 for election day, plus an additional $20 when they attend the required training. That’s right: you’ll get paid for the day, and we’ll compensate you for learning what to do.
A complete list of qualifications and duties can be found online, but in general, election officials must:
- Be a U.S. citizen at least 18-years-old and a registered voter in the Commonwealth of Virginia
- Be able to work on a computer to check in voters
- Choose a political party to represent on election day only to ensure each precinct is appropriately staffed
- Not hold an elected office or be the employee of an elected official
- Be available to work the entire Election Day
- Have a courteous, professional, and helpful attitude
- Be able to speak, read, and write English
- Have patience
The full list, and how to apply, can be found at our website at this link. Interested applicants must complete the Notice of Appointment form, the I-9 form and the direct deposit form found on the website.
New applicants must apply in person at our office at 2449 Princess Anne Road, also known as Building 14, at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center. Please call us at (757) 385-8683 with any questions.
Whatever your motivation for being an election official, your contribution to our community and to our democracy cannot be understated.
I encourage anyone who is interested in joining us to reach out and send in an application. We would be delighted to have you join our team, and your fellow voters would be equally appreciative.
Setting up election sites, checking in voters, processing paperwork and securing voting machines and ballots are not things that happen in a vacuum. Dedicated individuals take time out of their lives to ensure that we can all participate in one of the most fundamental rights we enjoy in our country.
Come join us, and be part of something awesome.
The author has worked in the Virginia Beach Office of Voter Registration and Elections for seven years and coordinates the election officials in our community. Prior to joining the office, she served as an election official for two years.
© 2022 Pungo Publishing Co., LLC. Used with permission.