Teens May Register As Paid Survey Participants This Fall
On election day, polling station officials are responsible for orderly voting at polling stations across the country. That November, however, is facing particularly difficult staffing challenges, as older people are at a significantly higher risk of dying from COVID-19: almost 60% of survey participants are over 60 years old . To receive compensation, teens may sign up for surveys this year to replace those more experienced employees who may need to avoid public places. Founded and run primarily by college students, Poll Hero is recruiting thousands of eligible high school and college students this fall to become paid survey participants.
The US Electoral Assistance Commission announced today National Campaign Recruitment Day – a day dedicated to “the goal of encouraging potential poll participants to sign up to vote” Help America Vote in 2020 “. While it is expected that this fall in the mail vote far more Americans than usual, the country still faces a potentially critical shortage of workers for interviews during a pandemic. Most of the survey participants are traditionally over 61 years old, which puts them at a higher risk of complications from COVID-19.
Poll Hero does not hire or train staff to conduct surveys – rather, they connect young people with local election commissions and help determine if they are eligible for the position. (Anyone 18 years of age or older can apply to participate in the survey, and some states allow young people 16 and older to do this job.)
According to the Frequently Asked Questions on the Poll Hero website , the following happens after registration:
We will contact you with instructions on how to apply to your local election commission and prepare for Election Day. We are also working on content creation to keep you informed and enthusiastic about the important role you will play in our democracy.
As Survey Hero points out, polling participation is something older teens and young adults can do to defend democracy and reduce the barriers to voting that people of color often face , including lack of polling stations and long lines. And for this position they pay from 75 to 500 dollars, depending on the place and duration of the shift.
It is important to note that we are still in the pandemic, and participation in surveys is not without the same risks as any other enclosed public place. Poll Hero offers these considerations about the health of potential polling workers , as well as questions to ask local electoral authorities about the precautions they are taking and what to bring with them on election day.
To get started, you can click here to register (or contact your local electoral office directly).