Wanted: 2 million poll workers for November

[DogPoundPup]

Source: boston.com

WASHINGTON—A federal commission is working to recruit 2 million poll workers for the November election to help handle what could be a record turnout for the presidential election.

"We have seen historically high voter turnout during the primaries and continued high registration rates this year," Rosemary Rodriguez, chairman of the Election Assistance Commission, said Thursday.

"Election officials throughout the nation anticipate high voter turnout to continue in the general election," Rodriguez said. "Preparation for high turnout includes extra ballots and voting machines, but most important, we must have as many poll workers, including bilingual poll workers, as possible to prevent long lines."

A little more than 60 percent of U.S. citizens of voting age cast ballots in the last presidential election. Nearly 6 percent of polling places reported having too few workers in the 2004 election, the commission said.

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/07/24/wanted_2_million_poll_workers_for_november/

[DS1]

1. It's refreshing to see them planning for this before actual election day

Usually it's just a giant clusterfuck

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. We need more machines as well

And these machines need to be hack-proof. I fail to see why no one in Congress appears concerned about these aspects of elections, namely that voter disenfranchisement is as simple as not having enough machines at a busy polling place, and election tampering is easy with these Diebold and ES&S machines.

[BearSquirrel2]

3. Because ...

Because a great many congressman are elected on the basis of selective voter disenfranchisement.

[Cronus Protagonist]

5. I think perhaps you're right

And the rest are clueless pollyannas.

[NMDemDist2]

4. I'm already signed up, did the caucus, did the primary and I'll do Nov too n/t

[rainbow4321]

6. I'll save any praise til the morning after...

Cuz they can print/promise anything they want up til then and it means nothing (to me, anyway).

State/local officials knew way ahead of time how huge the TX primary/caucus turnout was going to be and some areas (including my precinct) STILL had too few machines, overcrowded buildings, and long lines. Well, I take that back..the repuke side of the room had plenty of machines--sitting unused. The Dem side, with record turnout, started off with 4 machines and 2 "disappeared" midday, and the last person in line on our side didn't get to the machine til 2 hours after the 7pm "polls closed". Which in turn delayed our caucus start time by 2 hours. Some got in line to vote at 4 pm and didn't get to vote til 9 pm, as well.

All this after MONTHS of knowing we would have state/local record turnout.

[yellerpup]

7. I'm signed up. I took a pledge to support and defend the Constitution!

I loved doing that at the certification! Also, they asked for volunteers to learn a new voting machine specifically for the disabled and I signed up for that, too. In my county they have a training session every day of the week from the end of June until the end of August. I went on a Tuesday afternoon and the room was packed with election workers. In NY all election workers must be recertified every year, but there were lots of new people there judging by the show of hands. (More than 50%) We were told that every precinct will have an extra voting machine this election, too. This election is going to be the most significant one in my lifetime and I could not bear NOT to be there personally to make sure my little corner of the universe works just the way it is supposed to work.

(the main instructor (R) groused a little about how "they" don't let the BOE kick people off the rolls like they used to...

It's my party! :dem: :party:

GOBAMA!