Letter: Poll workers are needed for November election

The County Elections Department is looking for a dozen or so new Coastside poll workers for this upcoming election on November 6.This also probably means that they will need poll workers for the three elections coming up next year, in ‘08, too.

This is a most critical job since poll workers see all the things that happen on election day at the precincts and are thus public elections watchdogs as well as workers. We will be using the County’s new electronic voting machines for the second time. They were first used, one to a precinct, in Nov ‘06.

The hours are long, 6 am to 9 pm with two 1 hour breaks, and the stipend (what passes as pay) is meager, $125, but just like being a juror, it is critical for the proper working of our democracy.

Both my wife and I are Inspectors, (head poll workers) and I can recommend it to anyone who has the time available.

You will need to get trained. There will be a 3 hour training session planned for Half Moon Bay. Or you can go to any of the other training sessions over the hill.

The election is just three weeks away. We need a full complement of poll workers so please consider offering to help out. Normally there are four poll workers at each voting precinct so that there will still be three when one goes on break. When we get short handed, it only leaves two poll workers which is really not enough.

I would be happy to chat with anyone who may be interested. You can call me, Dennis Paull, at 650-712-0498, or better yet, call the Elections Office at 650-286-2810 and ask for Bob Brown or Greta Mc Elroy.

Dennis Paull
Half Moon Bay