With half of the required election school classes for poll workers complete, Daviess County Clerk’s Office Chief Deputy Richard House said his office is still in need of volunteers for the May primary.
There are 60 poll workers in each class, but House said with some no-shows and other long-time volunteers not returning, he expects the Clerk’s Office may not make its goal of 340 workers. That goal allows four poll workers — two Democrats and two Republicans — per precinct.
House said his office is specifically short on Republican poll workers. As of Tuesday, that shortage was about five volunteers down from Democratic totals.
“It has always been a mandate in Daviess County to have equal numbers of Republican and Democrat poll workers,” House said.
Daviess County has always been able to maintain an equal ratio, while other parts of the state have not, according to House. The party representatives on the Daviess County Board of Elections are charged with recruiting poll workers.
House said those representatives are now scrambling to get the extra volunteers needed for the election on May 21.
“We always like to have spares in case someone gets sick or can’t make it the day of the election,” House said. “We can run with three poll workers, but it’s tough. We don’t like to have that happen.”
There are two election schools Wednesday at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the WKU Owensboro campus and the last school is 6 – 8:30 p.m. Monday. House said those interested in volunteering should call his office at 270-685-8434 (ext. 3). Poll workers receive $175 for their service. Volunteers must be 18 years old and attend one of the election schools.
