Register to Work As a Polling Station Member on Election Day

With only a month left until election day, tensions are heating up. From the ongoing pandemic to the political storm of mail-order voting, to the president and his children urging supporters to “go to the polls and observe very closely” and “join the Army for the security operation of Trump’s election” – not to mention what in Most states have laws governing who can do this and how — and there are many reasons for concern about what comes next. But this time, there are a few more things you can do to calm your mind and protect the rights of your fellow voters. In addition to making sure you are registered to vote and requesting a ballot (many states have loosened restrictions due to the pandemic), you can also sign up for polls on election day and help keep them open for entry. person voting.

On average, more than half of those polled in America are 61 or older in a year – the Center for Public Integrity reports that percentages are even higher in some states – meaning that many of the people who would traditionally keep your local polling station running are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and advised not to show up on Election Day.

To learn more about voting, watch the video below:

As a result, we run the risk of a shortage of staff to conduct surveys across the country , and the consequences can range from staff cuts and long queues to the complete closure of some polling stations.

While voting by mail can help reduce the burden on in-person voting, it is important that those who need to vote in person can. This is why Power the Polls is recruiting 250,000 healthy, willing, and able-bodied polling staff on Election Day.

To register, go to Power the Polls and fill out the form with your name, email address and location.

The requirements for polling station staff differ depending on where you live – for example, in some states, volunteers may be under the age of 18. Some jurisdictions may require you to be a registered local voter (you can be a member of any party, but yours may affect the seat you nominate) and vote early or by mail. Some positions are paid, others are not. You can get more specific information about your area at Power the Polls.

This year, polling station workers may have additional responsibilities due to the pandemic, such as helping voters maintain physical distance in queues or opening and counting mail-order ballots.

If we haven’t convinced you yet, comedian Trevor Noah also encourages people to volunteer . So do it if you can and help democracy survive. This post was originally published in July 2020 and was updated in September 2020 to provide updated context and add a new header image.