Staff Report
The Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters office is looking for people to serve as poll workers for the statewide primary election on June 5.
Community participation is key to staffing the nearly 170 precinct boards for the election, said Joseph E. Holland, the county’s registrar of voters. Large employers in the county can show support by allowing and encouraging their employees to participate, he said.
“Poll workers are on the front line of democracy; without them voting does not happen,” Holland added.
Poll workers receive a stipend of $180 to $240 for Election Day and to attend training. Each polling place has one or more Precinct Boards composed of one inspector and two to four clerks. Each polling place has a coordinator and, if needed, a traffic clerk.
Poll workers must meet the following criteria:
- Be a registered California voter or a person lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States who could otherwise vote.
- Be able to follow written and verbal instruction.
- Be available to serve Election Day (June 5) from approximately 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. or until all of the closing procedures have been completed.
- Be available to attend a mandatory training class.
Howard Hudson is a poll worker and an “Adopt-A-Poll” organizer for the Santa Barbara Host Lions Club because he wants to be a part of the democratic process.
“I feel that as a citizen I am obligated to do what I can to help with the process, and I encourage others to get involved and participate. Election Day is busy but rewarding, and I get to meet others supporting our democratic process and (our) right to vote.”
To learn more, go to http://sbcassessor.com/Elections/Pollworker.aspx.
To sign up, call 1 (844) 259-0348, or email sbpolls@co.santa-barbara.ca.us (in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria areas),or smpolls@co.santa-barbara.ca.us (in the Santa Ynez, Lompoc and Santa Maria areas).
